�The next lectures set the stage, arranged marriages, bride price, dowries, kettubahs. Don�t worry, we�ll get there.� The lecture hall was emptying, a few students rushed up to grab a syllabus, but her grungy blonde interrogator kept pestering her. She kept packing her notes away, hoping he�d catch the hint.
�I don�t see how you can discuss relationships without discussing sex.�
�Well, we have to start somewhere.� She picked up her bag and started walking. He tossed a backpack over his shoulder and walked beside her, still yammering. She heard a door open. A man poked his head in and looked around.
�Professor Abe?� He�d pronounced it �Ah-bee.��
�Yes?�
He strode into the lecture hall. �Donald Kaufmann. Can I have a few minutes of your time?�
�I have somewhere�� �
�We were discussing the lecture.� They�d started speaking at the same time.
She watched his eyes dart between the two of them as he approached. Donald turned to the student, his tie twisting slightly. �I�m sure you were being insightful, but I have a plane to catch.� He shifted his shoulders back to her and stuck out his hand.
�I�m late for a committee meeting. In an hour?�
�OK. I�ll stop by your office.�
She hurried off, leaving them both behind.
�Professor Abe, thanks again for your time.� Donald reached over her desk to offer his hand.
�It�s �Ah-bay.� And anyway, call me Janice.�
�Janice, I�m here to offer you a job.� She blinked a few times, then laughed. �What�s so funny? Most professors are happy to pick up a side gig.�
�I�m not some chemistry professor or engineer. Why would the Navy hire me?�
�What makes you think I�m in the military?�
�Lots of things. Your hairstyle. Short, not high-and-tight but close. �It looks like you take care of yourself. Better than most of my students, and you�re twice their age.� She flushed slightly, realizing what she�d just admitted. �You handled yourself like a CEO, but a businessman would look comfortable in that suit. You just give off a military vibe. �
�You didn�t say military, you said Navy.�
�I felt the Academy ring when we shook hands. Annapolis.� She smiled. �Half of any history department is full of men who played with toy soldiers and spend years of their life studying old wars. You pick things up.�
Donald stared at her then laughed, spreading his hands in a surrendering motion. �And here I thought you were just flattering me.� Janice dropped her gaze.
�Now I definitely want to hire you. It�s just part time, consulting. But the pay�s good. Amazing, actually. A few hours a week on a teleconference, a few trips to DC.�
�But what for?�
He paused. �You haven�t signed an NDE yet, but you�d figure it out anyway. Aircraft Carriers.�
�Carriers?�
�They deploy a long time, with Mixed crews. There are hormones flying everywhere. We have regulations, but you know how it is.� He shrugged. �We hoped you might have some ideas on how to improve things.�
Janice stared at him. His slightly graying hair made him look distinguished. She reached back and started playing with her hair, which also hopefully hid a dark patch of skin on her neck. It didn�t look bad really, but she always felt self-conscious about it. She stared at the ceiling, and thought for a minute.
�Is this really about carriers?�
�What makes you think that?�
�We�ve had aircraft carriers for a lifetime. If you�ve got a problem couple, you transfer one of them. Carriers haven�t operated alone in decades. � She leaned forward, feeling like she had just been let in on a grand conspiracy. �It�s submarines, isn�t it?� she said quietly. �They�re thinking of having mixed gender crews. Now that�s a problem. You�ve got long deployments, tight knit group, and no possibility of re-assignment. Spouses left behind will wonder what�s going. How long would these subs operate alone?�
Donald smiled. �Dr. Abe, I can neither confirm nor deny what you just said. Until you come to Washington and fill out that non-disclosure. How�s Friday?�� She nodded, expecting a grand adventure. �Great, I�ll arrange your travel. I have to try and convince one other person to attend, no I can�t tell you, so I�m flying out tonight.�
�Can you stay for lunch?�
Donald smiled, and she felt like a freshman again. �Does this campus have a good pub?�
Saturday, Janice�s world fell apart.
Fifteen months later, one week after the Average Joes finale.
Donald shoved his steak away. �I hate places that overgrill. How�s yours?�
�Fine, I guess� Janice said. ��It�s hard to mess up salad.� She pushed some lettuce around and glanced up. Donald stared at her. Her dress looked mussed, like the cleaners had overstarched and it didn�t quite flow with her body. That was normal, but she looked tired. A small crucifix dangled from her necklace. Had she been wearing one the last time they�d met, seven months ago? He couldn�t remember.
�What? What is it?� she said.
�You know, I haven�t had much of a life these last few months. None of us did. If things had been different, I would have -- probably made a mess of things. But I would have asked you out.�
She blushed. �Well, there�s still time ��
The world flickered and dimmed. A voice boomed out �Hello Everyone. Please remain calm, this is a pickup.� The crowd hushed briefly, then erupted. �Will the following people please join us at the bar: David Prescott�� Donald tossed his napkin down and started towards the huge men in the new Confederacy Marine uniform. �Donald Kaufman� He turned and looked back puzzled.
��Aren�t you coming?�
�� Sarah Shi? Way? Sorry Sarah, � and John Xavier. Please step forward.�
Donald froze and looked at Janice, who was gently crying. �What? There�s some mistake.� He dashed over to the marines. �You forgot a name, corporal.� He presented his CAP card.� Corporal Sanchez, three inches taller than Donald while slouching, stopped leaning at the bar.
�Listen Mac, just because you hit the jackpot, don�t think you�� The CAP scanner beeped significantly, �get to -- boss -- me.� The private next to him, Aryan poster boy, let out a low whistle then snapped out a neat salute.
�Sir. I don�t think they make mistakes.�
�Ex-SF, right? You know they make mistakes all the time. Let me speak to -- you know the -- DAMMIT.� His voice choked and face flushed.
�Are you alright, Sir?� A voice came out of the speaker [Neural block on Donald Kaufmann released.] He gasped and drank a nearby glass of water. He turned back to the marines.
�As you were. Do your jobs.� �Donald felt his face slowly returning to normal.
Corporal Sanchez addressed the crowd, voice amplified. �Those of you who have your CAP cards need to decide if you want to come along for the ride and what you are willing to do. If you do not have a CAP card, please stand aside.� Donald saw a stunning woman screaming at the Marines, who quickly subdued her. He recognized her; she was an actress but he couldn�t remember her name. They�d probably made sure she was here, too, as an object lesson for the public. On the other side of the room, the Aryan briefed the volunteers, demonstrating CAP scanners.
Donald tried to relax, and took a deep breath. �Explain. Why is Dr. Abe not a volunteer?�
[Her CAP scores fall short of the required minimum.] This AI had a feminine voice, or had changed to one before speaking, with a slight British accent. The earlier one, who had directed him to the restaurant, sounded male.
�That�s not an answer.� Numbers appeared on the scanner he was holding, alongside a picture of Janice. �You know what I mean. She did critical work on setting this up. And we�re still improvising, so we�ll need her.�
[Dr. Abe is a historian, not a sociologist. Her knowledge and insights are already replicated across hundreds of individuals and contained inside the AI knowledge base. Her past contributions were not critical. Etiology from recent volunteers and their concubines is more useful. Psychologists will apply the knowledge she has provided.]
Donald stared at the scores. Janice possessed a strong intellect and solid determination, but low confidence and maternal instinct. Her social classification was introvert. Apart from that, average across the board. Even with a bonus for her work, she only reached a 6.1. He sat and stared at the scanner. �[As you can see, her empathy scores indicate no special understanding of harem dynamics that would advance our knowledge. She protested the mating arrangements and is no longer objective in that regard.]
Sanchez walked back. �Sir? We need you to get moving. There�s a riot outside the interdiction field, and you have six slots to fill.�
Donald made up his mind. �If you have any ideas I�ll hear them in two minutes. I�d prefer ex or current military.� He found Janice still sitting at the table.
�The AIs made a mistake. Come with me. I�ll be busy, you can continue your work. You know I�m no monster. And well �� Donald had thrown his coat over the chair.
She sniffed. �But, I --� Two tables over a short, balding man was on top of a formerly elegant red head, pounding away. ��just can�t. Not here. Please� It was barely a whisper.
�I can�t sample five women anyway. Do you like sex?�
�Sometimes. It�s been a while��
�Good enough for now. Fair warning. You get my job by being a right bastard. We�re both going in blind.� He headed back to the Marines, loosening his tie. �Janice?� She got up.
�She�s with me. I want her transported up while I finish my selections.��
[Janice Abe. Please confirm.]
Janice glanced around the room and smiled. �I�m � I�m going with Donald.�
[Confirmation accepted.] Sanchez directed her towards the transport pad. Donald turned back to the room and smiled.
He walked up to Private Aryan. �Well?�
�The lookers are being driven.� The private shrugged. �You snooze you lose. I pulled aside one uniform, though. Hope you don�t mind Air Force, sir.� He pointed towards a petite Hispanc woman, black hair cut short and neat under a cap. Smooth skin, but a large nose (broken? He couldn�t tell) dominated her face. Donald glanced at her perfectly vertical name badge.
�Tech Sergeant Smith. Your CAP card, please. Why didn�t you get naked like the rest of them?� He pulled up her scores.
�I know my strengths and weaknesses -- Sir? -- You�re not in uniform but that Marine saluted. He didn�t salute the others.�
�Sir works for now. Wait? You have a 6.6! Why aren�t you picking out your own concubines?�
�I just joined for the stability. It�s a good job. I wanted to find a husband, but he didn�t work out. If he had, I wouldn�t have re-upped. I didn�t join fight aliens.�
�You a good cocksucker, Smith?�
She dropped to her knees, unzipped him, and fished out his hardening cock. �It�s Roberta, Sir. And yes. That�s why God invented field deployments.� She engulfed him, pressed her lips against the base for a few seconds and swirled her tongue around his shaft, then started a quick bobbing motion, silently thanking her stars he wasn�t hung like her ex. He let her go on for another minute.
�You�re in. Congratulations, Roberta, you�ve just been promoted.� He stuffed his cock back into his pants. �Later. Go pick out two guys, three tops. Make sure they can handle lots of kids and not being top dog. Then bring them to me.�
�Yes sir!� She smiled and ran over to the waiting men.
�Get a CAP scanner from the Marines and have them show you how to use it!� he shouted after her.
The other second stringers surged forward. He held up his hand. �When I point you�ve got 10 seconds to sell me. If you aren�t naked, do it. Orderly.� He started with a large woman, probably 250 pounds. She was sitting down and holding a cane. Donald tried not to think about how she looked, but kept his eyes locked with hers.
�I cook, fuck and watch kids. My husband aint left me, fat as I am.� She was struggling out of her blouse, spilling a huge chest and huge belly. The crowd sniggered, then quieted when he took her card.
�Oh, and introduce yourself. My name is Donald.�
�Brenda. Pleased to meet you.�
He pointed to a young girl, maybe 15 or 16, with braces and mild terrible acne, while he studied Brenda�s CAP scores.
�Tracy. I�m smart, but I -- � she started sobbing. � -- they always said smarts would count for something, but that�s not how it works. Not in high school, and not now�� Brenda gave Tracy a hug and whispered, while Donald waved his hand.
�I�m Susan, and I�ll rock your world.� Susan had discarded some very unfashionable clothes. Donald hated the goth look, but once out of them she looked decent, and not too skinny. A single tramp-stamp was on her back. Compared to the rest of them, Susan was practically a goddess. Tracy glared as he took Susan�s card.
�I�m Bethanny. Or Beth.� Beth was a frumpy soccer mom. She had sagging breasts and a belly slightly overhanging her pubic hair. Her hair was reddish-brown. Next to Beth was a boy, a pre-schooler, staring around the room confused. He clutched her hand. �Tommy is my youngest, the other two are in school. I handle them and volunteer for a local charity. I learned organizing and advanced sluttery from my sorority, back in the day. I can outfuck her.� She nodded towards Susan. �It�s easy when you are young and horny. I still shake the earth with the same guy after fifteen years.�
�If you�re married...�
��After that show last week, Frank and I talked. Either one of us gets a shot, we take it.� Beth hugged Tommy tight and offered her card.
He took it. �Next.�
�Listen Mister, I�ll....�
�Next.�
�But why?� �
Donald glared at her and she quieted down. �I�m not taking you, If you make a scene nobody will take you, assuming the Marines don�t shoot you.� Donald turned back to Tracy. �You�re so smart? You tell her.�
Tracy looked up. �You didn�t introduce yourself. And his name is Donald.�
Donald walked back to Tracy.�Apart from smart, you pay attention. You�d be amazed how many people try to glide by on their brains.� He took Tracy�s card from her trembling hand and looked up. Several college girls had walked over. Gang-bang rejectees. �Get to the end of the line ladies.� Most shuffled meekly, but a platinum blonde reached down his pants.
�I�m no hag, and I�ll do whatever you say.�
Donald smiled. �Prove it.� She purred and dropped to her knees. A loud �whump� and she fell, convulsing. Marines ran over, weapons drawn. �Everybody freeze!� Women backed away instinctively, then froze. Tommy gaped and started bawling.
Donald slowly raised his hands, a stinger in one. �There�s no problem here.� Corporal Sanchez eyed him.
Sanchez stuck out his hand. �Please relinquish your weapon. If you have any problems with the crowd, we will handle it, Sir.� Donald handed it over. �Hurry, we�re going in 15 minutes.�
�Roberta! Report!� Donald nodded toward the next woman in line, one of the waitresses, judging from her discarded uniform. She had muscular calves, but little else jumped out. Average breasts, plain face, but full lips and soft brown eyes.
�I�m Elizabeth. I do what I�m told and what I got to; to get by. You look like the man of my dreams.� Donald�s head snapped up. She was looking down, but it felt sincere. He took her card. Her CAP score was sub 3.0. She was passive and had a work ethic, but poor people skills, a bad parent, and gathered dust in bed. He handed her card back. Roberta ran up, three men in tow.
�Sir. I�ve got three candidates. I can live with any of them.� She passed the cards over and he set aside the women�s cards. �Ralph?� Two guys stepped forward, one blond and the other with a slight fuzz covering an almost bald head.� �Uh, Ralph Andeerseen.� The bald guy backed up a bit. Andeerseen was medium build, no six pack but not much fat either, nice hair style. His cock jutted out, pre-cum dripping. Donald saw it was larger than his. Actually, all the men sported proud erections. Anderson carried nine inches, but the other two held up nicely. He leaned over to Roberta.
�You didn�t just spend 10 minutes cock hunting, did you?�
�No sir! There were plenty of men � may as well start at the large end. I passed over several better than Ralph. There was one monster bigger than anything I�ve ever seen�� Satisfied, Donald studied �Blond Ralphs� scores. Smart enough, athletic, but disorganized and flighty. Great, a surfer dude. The other Ralph (Jones) was organized, but stupid. Jim was in between. All three scored well on paternal instinct.
Donald glanced back at the line of women. Tracy had calmed down, Brenda was still talking to her. �Brenda, on your back. Gentlemen, you each have two minutes to convince Brenda to bring you along. Ladies, if I have your CAP card, come forward. Just suck for 20 seconds, then bend across the table. Roberta grades your oral technique after I�m done. Next in line, start talking!�
He walked up to Tracy, who was down on her knees. She started licking the head furiously, but only took him halfway. The talking woman talking wasn�t impressing him, so he let her ramble, and motioned for Tracy to get up. He bent her across the table and slid easily into her, then stopped. He pulled out and quietly asked quietly �Are you a virgin?� She nodded. �Was this that exciting? You�re soaking wet.�
Tracy blushed. �It was -- but I was playing with myself to get prepare.�
�Next!� Tracy started sobbing. �Not you, Tracy. Join the marines.�
From over on the floor, Brenda grunted �Well, there may be hope for you yet, Donald Kaufmann.� She lifted her head off the ground, pushed Jim off her. �Next!��Donald pointed to Beth and Susan. �Since the two of you have a competition going, tag team me. You both can share, right?� Beth raced Tommy away; Susan had him down her throat in one smooth motion. Beth returned while Susan put on a master class in fellatio and crawled underneath and started licking his balls. After a few seconds, Beth nudged Susan, who had no intention of stopping. Reluctantly, she released him, a chain of drool connecting the tip of his penis to her chin. Beth slurped him down just as easily. �That�s a draw. Over the table.� �He turned to the woman who was talking and motioned Roberta to grab her card, while he started sampling the two women. He figured it was safest to keep the rest of the line hopefully, but he�d counted his slots. Roberta had rushed the card over, and he saw she had a low sex drive. He pulled out and switched again. �Roberta, have � Jane � eat you out.� Jane complied, but her distaste was obvious to the crowd. Roberta shook her head. Brenda had finished with the last guy. He�d brought another woman over the table, but she was still dry, so he sent her back. He switched again. �Roberta, confer with Brenda. If you two can�t agree I�ll tie break.� He finished off in Susan, but both of them had been good. Beth made little mewling noises, while Susan had kept yelling encouragement. Not that he�d needed it.
�One of you is definitely going, maybe both.� He went down the rest of the line, and was thankful that nobody�s story or card forced him to second guess himself. He was out of time. Roberta and Brenda came back with Jim. He shrugged and sent them to the marines. He walked back to Beth and Susan. �Both of you, with me.� Beth grabbed Tommy and hurried to catch up. Donald watched the Marines push back the crowd. They had scanned for weapons, but only for human ones. They needed to scan for stingers as well. Someone will manufacture them soon enough. Or get hold of a replicator.
[You have six people with you, but have already accepted Janice Abe.] He�d forgotten. He turned to the operator.
�Do you need a concubine?.� Anyone?� The operator shook his head.
Janice. One man. One aide. One mother. Donald didn�t think he could live with himself if he left Tracy. �Sorry, Susan. I�m saving a few extra kids.� She didn�t react or fight. After the AI confirmed everyone, he rushed them onto the transport pad. Donald�s last memory of Earth was Susan�s stunned face.
Donald�s first view of space was Janice�s smile dropping away. He quickly introduced her to the rest as they trundled off to the main area. Orientation went as well as could be expected, with the initial briefing right after pickup. Donald told Roberta to listen, ask questions, and bring everyone to the pod. Donald didn�t have a reason to stay, he�d approved the briefing material.
�AI, direct me to my pod.� [Please follow the blue lights.] �I designate my Roberta to be my chief of staff with authority to handle trivial issues, and with permission to issue routine orders.� [Define �routine� and �trivial.�]
�Specifically? Pod setup, Entry and exit for family and guests. Work assignments. Nothing �medical. In General -- Minor unexpected occurrences, especially involving children. Day to day decisions. Can you guess based on the last few years?�
[I have conferred with Terran AIs regarding your command style. In general yes, but I may require clarifications from time to time.] The pod door opened as he approached. [The default master bedroom is to the right]. Donald walked into it and nodded. �Given that you know my style, if you aren�t sure it�s a close decision. If I�m not there, defer to Roberta and ask me later. Oh, and if someone doesn�t have authorization or you are checking with me, acknowledge them. Don�t just sit there and make them wonder if you�ve broken.� The AI chimed the default acknowledgement [Beep] he�d used on Earth. �Good, We�ll get started. Place a call to Admiral Chen.�
[Admiral Chen was extracted 28 hours ago is not answering calls from subordinates. Would you like to leave a message?] �Has he designated an Aide? Place me through to him. And create two distinct personas, one for work and one for family issues.�
Brenda was taken to medical, but everyone else made it to the pod about an hour later. They stopped at the entrance since the door remained shut. Tracy spoke up �This is ours, right? Open the pod bay door, Hal� Janice chuckled a bit, while a female AI replied.
[Roberta has been granted household command privileges. She controls entry.]
�Then open the door already.� The door slide open and everyone tumbled in. [The master bedroom is to the right.] A small red light glowed over the doorway. [Adult bedrooms are to the left. The children�s dormitory is accessible via the lift. A playground is currently being constructed in the recreation area, to the right rear.] The kids ran towards that, but were gently stopped by a repulsor. [Construction will be completed later today. Lunch is available in the dining hall to the rear left if you are hungry.] Janice�s stomach rumbled � she had missed lunch. It seemed like a dream.
�What�s for lunch?� asked Jim.
[Your orders from the restaurant have been replicated.]
Lunch settled things down, but the kids were running around exploring the areas they could. The AI spoke to Roberta. [Donald has directed that you spend the afternoon adjusting, keeping an eye on the children, and setting up living arrangements as you see fit. He will join everyone for dinner. Nobody may leave without his permission for the next 70 hours, with the exception that parents should join the Marines when they recover their remaining children.]
�OK. When will Brenda be here?� [Approximately 20 minutes. Marines will arrive to escort Beth for her recovery in an hour. Your ex-husband has acquiesced to releasing Michael. Do you wish to join the retrieval party?] �Uh, no. Tell the Marines to say my sponsor didn�t allow me to attend, if he asks.� [Message relayed. Do you have any other directives?.]
�Just let everyone in. Family can always come in, right?� [Acknowledged. There are several decisions Donald has asked you to make, starting with pod appearance �]
Donald joined them for dinner. He walked in, gave all the women a quick peck on the cheek, and shook Jim�s hand. �What�s for dinner?� �All the kids started shouting at once ��Everyone can have their favorite food..� A cheer went up from the table, as Donald stood up. �Just line up at the replicator and tell the computer what you want. If it�s not cooked how you like it, we�ll have to improvise with the stove. Save room for ice cream.� Another cheer.
Brenda was eyeing him �I don�t plan on doing that every day. I believe that everyone eats together, the same choices. But, today�s a special occasion -- let�s eat. And get introduced.� After the kids got settled, he walked up to the replicator. �My steak sucked this afternoon. Can you do better?� A steak appeared. He sat down next to Jim, who was having fajitas. �You did construction?�
�Mostly new homes. Pretty easy stuff.� Jim had wavy brown hair and a goatee. He looked more like a beatnik than a working stuff. Jim was shorter, but still around six feet even, and just starting to let go a bit. He looked about thirty. He waved towards the kids table. �Which one is yours?�
Jim pushed the anger down. Treat him like a foreman, he could turn out to be a good guy once you got to know him. �Well, according to that briefing, they belong to you. But yeah, Melissa is mine. She�s almost six.� Donald didn�t ask him about his wife, at least. After a few more questions, Donald went on to the women. He spent a few minutes asking everyone about themselves, but just superficial things, information he could have gotten from their records AI. Why was he doing that, to avoid stepping on toes? Did he just like small talk? None of women talked much, answering Donald�s questions with short answers. Jim thought that�s a bad sign. He was terse, but most women would talk and talk, if the felt comfortable. Formality and uncertainty smothered any conversation that threatened to break out.
Donald noticed that everyone else had finished. He�d carried the conversation, but hadn�t pressed much. His appetite was gone. He pushed his steak away and quietly asked Roberta which kid seemed most responsible.
��Kids, the play area is done! Everyone put your plates away and then we can Go play for a bit.� The kids all dashed off, while Brenda started to get up. �Steven!�
A lanky blond boy stopped. �Yes?�
�Steven, I need you to watch the other kids and make sure they play nice and share.� Brenda started towards the door area, but Donald motioned for her to stay. �You�re old enough to do that, right?�
Steven puffed up, as much as his twelve year old frame could. �Of course!� He ran off, waving to Beth. Donald watched him go, while he subvocalized to the AI �Create a reference book with all the names, birthdays and pictures of the children. Leave it in my room.� Steven could be heard yelling for everyone to share as he left.
Donald let out a slow breath. �Don�t get me wrong. I like kids -- but I haven�t had any. I guess I should introduce myself. I�m Donald Kaufmann, and the reason I seem to know everything is that I helped set this up.� Everyone started murmuring. �Most sponsors don�t know what they�ll be doing. I started in logistics, but was a DARPA liason, that�s R&D, so I imagine I�ll wind up doing one of those. Right now I�m doing both, until they staff up.�
Brenda chuckled. �An officer and a gentleman. Were you a Marine?�
Roberta started to rebuke her when Donald caught himself. �Roberta � she�s not military. I guess I made this sound like a briefing, but it shouldn�t be. Navy. I was a Captain on earth. I�m provisionally a Rear Admiral, but that will depend on who they recruit. Ranks will be bouncing around quite a bit this first year.� That understated it. Already there was massive political fighting. The Navy would absorb the Air Force, and the Army would be absorbed by the Marines. Generals scored much higher you�re your average civilian. Then when you factor in the Russians, Chinese and the rest of NATO �
Murmuring. Donald got back on track. �That means that I won�t be in day to day danger, although I�m still going on some missions. Roberta was in the military, so she�ll tell you the bad news.�
�Officers delegate then criticize..Generals are notorious for it. I guess Admirals, too. They tell you what they want and let you figure out how to do it, then get mad if you didn�t do what they would have done. Sometimes they just think what they want and assume heard them.�
�That�s right. I know this isn�t a military organization, but it�s what I�m used to. So if I go off half-cocked, trying saying �You never told me that.� The other bad news is that I�m busy. I have a shitload of work and unlike your Average Joe, they expect me to do it right now. So we won�t have a few days to get to know each other. Get settled, but don�t bother me when I�m working except in an emergency.�
�You�ve heard the orientation, but to hit the high notes � You belong to me, take care of the children. No sex with the children. How old is the eldest?�
Roberta said �Twelve.� [12 And 8 months.]
Donald considered this. �By rule, you can start teaching him when he�s thirteen, but I don�t like that. We�ll take it on a case by case basis. No sex, no nothing beyond hugs and kisses with any kid until I say so.�
�Roberta runs the show when I�m not around. You need something, you ask her. If she thinks you screwed up, you screwed up. She�ll probably need advice and she�ll take it if it�s good, but be respectful. She outranks you.�
�Watch the kids, but don�t overwatch them. Humanity will become a race of pussies just like all the rest if we don�t let them make mistakes. But if they do make mistakes, call them on it. You�ll need to make a schedule for them. Hmm. -- close supervision for the first few days, until the kids get used to each other and fall into a routine.�
�Decide what you want to look like. We�ll go over that individually starting tomorrow. I�ve seen the results, you can look like pretty much whatever you want. Don�t laugh. I wouldn�t have stunned that blonde knockout so fast if it wasn�t true.� The table chuckled. �OK, I still would have, but I�d have regretted it.� Jim was laughing hard, but most of the women looked thoughtful.
�I know you got this, but your primary job is kids. Watching them and having them. That means sex. It would be nice to wait a while and get to know each other, but my orders are clear. Unfortunately for Jim I�m pulling rank. I sleep with everyone first. Ius Primae Noctus and all that.� Donald winked.
�Ee-us what?� said Tracy.
Janice answer �Law of the first night. The king has the first chance to sleep with any bride.� Donald smiled as she continued. �It�s a popular myth.�
�That�s not real?�
She shook her head. �Nobody can find a reference to it from when it supposedly happened. The consensus is that it�s dramatic license in a play.�
Donald�s smile kept up. �Well, I still think it�s a damn good idea. Sorry Jim, that�s the price you pay for having to service all these ladies.�
�I�ll manage.�
Donald turned to Roberta. �Work out a schedule for handling the kids, and someone has to be available at all hours to handle nightmares or whatnot. Roberta spends the night with me. I�ve got to get back to work. Keep an eye on the kids.� He walked out the door.
Brenda and Beth got up and went for the door and towards the children�s area. �The rest of us can clean up. What do we do?� [Take all remains back to the replicator. It is also a disposal.] �OK.�
Roberta bent down next to Janice and picked up Beth�s tray. �Friendly advice. Never publicly contradict an officer over something trivial.�
�But �.�
�He was showing off. He was trying to impress � you, I guess. Maybe Tracy. Not many people know about that. I�d never heard of it.�
�So I should have just shut up.�
�Or made it sound like he knew the real story. He�s a natural leader, and those type hate looking bad in front of the troops. You didn�t see him selecting us, and leaving people behind.�
�He hired me for this project.� She waved her hands around. �The social aspects.�
��He must like you, but do you know him outside of work? You�re competent, or he would have left you behind.� Roberta had meant it as a complement, but she saw Janice scowl slightly. �So just respect him �Whatever jobs he gives, do them with competence and respect him, and we�ll all be fine.� Roberta decided to leave it at that.
Donald�s eyes were closed, as Roberta slowly licked the head of his cock. She took him in, stopped, squeezed her lips tight, let him out. He moaned. She picked up the pace. She let his dick slide out and murmured �Come for me.� then swallowed him again and bobbed her head once, twice, three times. Fortunately he shot off when she had him secure. Despite what she�d promised, Roberta wasn�t enthusiastic about blow jobs, and decided to ask Beth for pointers, later on. She kept sucking until he was nice and clean, then crawled up to cuddle and rest her head on his chest.
�God, I needed that.� She smiled and kept tracing her hands across his stomach. His dick was at half mast and fading.
�Been a while, lover?� she asked. He nodded and sighed.
�I�ve been planning the goddamn evacuation of Earth and coordinating the biggest military we�ve ever seen. No time for anything else. I was married for a while, but got divorced about a decade ago.� He closed his eyes and shut up, thinking about Kim. They lay there, breathing quietly, for a while. Donald�s breathing slowed; he was drifting off to sleep. Then he felt a stirring, and his penis gave a small jump Roberta lifted her head up and smiled, running her fingers gently around his shaft. She smiled, Donald rolled her over and started kissing her stomach, but quickly settled in and gave nice long licks to her pussy.
�Unh. Yes.� Roberta tensed, back arched �Oh! Fuck!� Her hands spread out and clutched the sheet, his tongue pushing her along, she felt his cock, iron hard against her thigh and �pulled him on her. �Now.� Her voice rasped, low. Quickly, he climbed up, kissed her. Her hands grabbed and guided, and he pushed into her. She wrapped her arms around his back and pulled. �Now.� Now.� Now�� Donald wasn�t young, and she�d taken the edge off. He provided a satisfying, draining fuck.
Donald woke later. The clock said 0300. He raised the lights slightly, sat at the computer and started reviewing files. He felt her moving behind him a few seconds before her hands kneaded his shoulders. �You don�t fool around, do you? Real work hard, fuck hard type?� For a brief second he was mad, but he hadn�t really been working, just reviewing memos. She spun his chair around and put a finger on his lips. She looked down for an adjustable lever, but didn�t see any. �AI, gently recline this chair back � stop.� She sat on his lap, squashing his cock, which twitched underneath her. She kissed his cheek and nibbled on his ear, then pulled back and stared at him. What did she see?
�You will kill yourself. If not literally, then emotionally. You can do this for months, years even. I�ve seen promotion burnouts. You�ve been like this for years? Those other washouts were prepping for an exam and their future. You worried about everyone. It�s not even the same.� He started to talk and she shushed him, gently. �You�re the Admiral out there, but we�re all new to this. You�ve got all this theory, but you�ve never had a group of women at your beck and call. That makes you a Lieutenant. And what was the first thing you learned as a Lieutenant?�
Donald chuckled, then picked her up and gently impaled her on his cock. She sighed sweetly. �That�s right. Listen to your Sergeant. Oh, that�s nice.� She pushed him back into the chair �I�ll drive� and then kissed him, her eyes closed.
The clock said 0715 when he woke up again. They were back in bed, her arms draped around him. Donald tried to slide out and she squeezed tight. �Mmm. I could get used to this.� She pulled up and gave him a kiss. Her hands started sliding around and he broke the embrace, but kissed her.
�Years of tension provided last night. I don�t have a super-cock.�
She dropped back to the pillow. �But you will, right? This just keeps getting better and better!� He nodded. �After our medicals ��. � he stood up. �Coffee.� The replicator beeped and a cup of coffee appeared on the ledge behind his desk.
�Uh, where��
�Bathroom behind the partition.�
�We can make replicators anywhere?�
Donald paused �Food and drink replicators in the mess only.� The AI beeped and his wall started to re-arrange �Except for my personal one.� [Beep] The wall re-assembled. He heard the sink running. �Eating together forms the basis of the community.� She walked up to him, took the coffee, and raised an eyebrow.
�I�m not going strolling over there naked. Besides, rank has privileges.� He took the coffee back and drank. �Today�s a working day, but fun work. AI, show me a hologram of Roberta. Life-size.� A blue outline appeared, slowly rotating. Roberta froze and walked up to it. �What do you want to look like?�
She just stared. Donald took another sip. �Then let me try. Give her a C-cup. Size the hips to make the classic hourglass. Firm up her stomach and ass. Stop. More muscle tone, maybe five percent. Five more. Shrink the nose to the norm. Apparent age, twenty seven. Hair, shoulder length. Hm. Try a B-cup. Average the two. Shrink the hips the same proportion.� He stared at the hologram for another minute, then looked over.
�I�m � beautiful.� She turned and there were tears in her eyes. �This is like a dream. But don�t you want bigger breasts?�
��You did fine last night with less. Besides, I want you looking a bit hard. You need to keep them in line.�
�Show me what you�ll look like!� [You do not have]
��Oh, just show us.� Robert�s new form replaced Roberta�s. She frowned. �You look just like those hulking marines in the bar. Not as big, but like a stereotype. Can I make a suggestion?�
�Keep him the same size he is.� Nothing changed, but Donald waved and he shrank. �Can you keep the strength but remove the outward signs? OK, a bit more definition than that, especially the ass. Good. Undo the youth facelift. Hm. Nevermind, you look scrumptious. Keep the salt and pepper hair.� She looked at it for a minute, then nodded and turned toward him.
�Everyone wants the fountain of youth, but age signifies command. You�ve got the bearing, you don�t need to super-size to impress the Marines. Keeping your original height shows confidence.�
�So � you don�t want a super-cock?�
�Don�t talk crazy, Lieutenant� she walked over and drank the last of the coffee. �Do you wake up at 2am often?� He nodded. �AI, can you fix that?� [I can remove insomnia.]
Donald starred at the coffee cup, thinking. �No. That�s a feature, not a bug.� She started to protest but he held up his hand. �Can you help me fall asleep faster? And take naps?� [A standard hypnosis package has been developed.]
�Fine. Do not modify my sleep cycle. I still want to wake up in the middle of the night if I would normally, but I�d like the ability to fall asleep quickly. I accept proposed changes for both of us, as well as standard upgrades.� [Beep]
�What are the standards?�
�Oh, you know. Cardio cleanup, lung capacity. Disease scrubbing nanites, better eyesight, new joints, whatever. Easier pregnancies for the women. Improved Libido. Super-cocks and wonder women. Are any medical pods available right now?�
[Yes]
Donald slapped her ass. �Get over there. That should only take a few hours and you�ll be back by lunch. I�ll run everyone else this morning and start sending people over. Go talk to your son first, though, and explain what�s happening. Show him the holograms.� He didn�t need kids freaking. �When you get back we�ll organize the next few days. Another cup.� He grabbed it and walked out the door.
Most of the kids were having breakfast. Eggs and pancakes were the choices, apparently. Everyone said hello. Donald got pancakes. He looked around � �Good morning everyone. Where�s Brenda?�
Tracy answered �She had the kids during the early morning. Hers were keeping the others awake, so she�s sleeping in.� Donald felt her eyes tracking him, relentlessly. Janice was sitting apart, poking at some eggs. He sat down between Beth and Tracy, and gave them both a sexless peck. Best not to make promises I can�t keep. Not yet, anyway. �Why don�t you have the kids-- nevermind.� He stuffed a bite into his mouth, and reached for the syrup, to cover the taste of the pancakes. The replicators food was just fine, but the cooking stank. He�d have them start making meals from raw materials, until they could improve the pre-built menus.
�Sleep well?� Janice asked. Donald raised his eyes, but kept his head down..
He smiled with a conviction he didn�t feel. �Best night I�ve had in a while.� �There wasn�t any point in hiding it. People ate in nervous silence. �Anyway, this morning we�ll look at everyone�s modifications. Who wants to go next?� Everyone avoided his gaze. �Oh, it�s not bad. Roberta loves the new her. She�ll be back later.� Jim drank the last of his coffee, set the cup down. �May as well be me.�
Donald got up and glanced around the room, counting. He poked his head into the play area then headed back to his office, waving to Jim. �Five minutes.� He closed the door and asked the AI about the babysitting arrangements.
Jim�s requests were straightforward. Improved muscle tone. He didn�t want to have to shave, so they drastically slowed beard growth. There was only one point of contention.
�Oh, come on, You�re having your pecker pulled, right?� Jim exclaimed.
�Mine�s average. Yours already has heft. What percentile is it?� [77th percentile in length. 83rd percentile in circumference.] �Donald pointed towards the voice. �See, packing more than four out of five already. Don�t get greedy. Besides, we�ve got a 15 year old virgin.�
�AI, what percentile compared to post adjustment dicks?� �There was a pause [Do you wish for me to answer that?.] �Donald didn�t know the exact answer, but had a shrewd guess.
�Compared to the post adjustment size of concubines with female sponsors?�
[54th percentile in length, 57th percentile in thickness. That result is not statistically significant.]
Jim asked �What does that mean?�
�It means that your cock is right what women want, when you give them the choice. A touch big, perhaps.�
�And the second part.�
�It just means that not many women volunteers have been picked up, so there�s some room for error. But I don�t imagine the average will move much.�
Jim was still thinking, so Donald pushed on. �This isn�t a competition. It would be inconvenient for me to give you a monster. Some recruits are getting twelve inches. Longer. They have to modify the women. It usually turns out poorly.�
�I don�t want one of those �. I just want a ... bonus.�
�Roberta is being converted into a pinup, if not a centerfold.� Jim could hear Donald�s. �I imagine the others will, too. You�ll have the libido and recovery time of an 18-year old. I�ll be gone for months at a time.�
�I know but -- didn�t you always just want to be every woman�s best?� Jim winced a bit at his phrasing. �I�m not competing. But -- you show me the candy store then get annoyed I�m trying to buy.�
�I�ll tell you what. I�ll have the AI poll our women and take that into consideration. I�m not going to make a final decision just yet though. I need to see Tracey.�
Tracy saw Roberta return ran to greet her. Roberta�s smock that she�d left in now rode halfway up her ass. She was the same height, but the path from neck to knee wasn�t a straight line anymore. �Oh. My. God! You are stunning.� She hugged Roberta tight, then pushed her away. �Now go tell him to change his mind!� Her face softened. �Please?�
�I look great, so you want me to undo it?�
�Not you! Me! Change his modifications for me!�
�What�s he doing to you?�
�Nothing! He�s just fixing my acne and teeth. He got all high and mighty -- I�m too young for big changes, and we�d be able to do this later, and to decide in a year. I could have breasts, not these little things.�
Roberta frowned �Yesterday you had a cup more than I did.�
�And now I�m losing! Fifteen is a great time to have huge breasts. You reduce them when they start to sag!� Roberta laughed. �I�ll talk to him, but I promise nothing.�
Brenda came out of Donald�s office, all smiles. When she saw Roberta, it got even bigger. �I didn�t believe, seeing that hologram. But, wow. I�m off to be a new woman.� Donald poked his head out, glanced around, and saw Roberta. �Welcome back. Please come in.�
She came in, closed the door and slipped off the robe. �You like?� she purred, came up close and kissed his cheek, but his face was an icy mask. It almost cracked, but she saw him keep it under control. She backed away �What?�
�I said I wanted the children to have freedom, but they were unsupervised until after breakfast. I know you set up a schedule -- but someone forgot or blew it off.�
�I�m sorry, I�ll look into it.�
�You didn�t consider that I may pull people away for �
�Now honey, I.� she interrupted, then quickly stopped, realizing her error. That tone of voice had been reserved arguing with her ex-husband. But it was too late. Donald stared at her for a second then sat down on the edge of the bed, grabbed her and pulled her over his lap.
�Don�t.� smack �you� smack �know� smack �better?� He paused for a second, then applied ten more fierce swats. Roberta�s legs were kicking, and she gasped and yelped, but didn�t say anything. He paused and stood her back up, then stood up and started pacing. She straightened up, keeping her hands at her sides.
�This was going to be a dressing down, and a mild one. Just a �stay on the ball� speech. Did you rotation teach basic?�
She nodded.
�Then you know all about it. But you can�t really do that to the woman who shared your bed last night. Believe me, I know. But you can spank her. That gets the message across just fine, doesn�t it?�
�Yes, Donald.� He tilted his head. �That�s right. It isn�t sir, not anymore. I�m your husband. I�m their husband. Or I will be, soon enough. Come, sit down.� He patted the space beside him on the bed, then changed his mind and pulled her into his lap.
�This is confusing. And why there are such stringent rules against fraternization. But we aren�t military. That makes this pod a powder keg. People are already fighting for my attention. I saw it at breakfast. Some don�t even realize they are doing it.�
�I�m sorry. I didn�t mean to. But for a second you were my ex-husband, treating me like a recruit when we were at home. It just slipped out.� She trembled.
�That�s why you slept with me first, isn�t it? I was hoping it was for another reason, but I knew it was just to show the others.� She sobbed quietly, but louder than during the spanking.
He wiped away the tears. �That was one reason. I don�t need to explain about the problems. You�ll deal with it. We need some slack into the system. Talk to the parents about assigning some responsibilities to the kids. Give kids who do well some perks. A little candy, or junk food, free time. We�ll do the same for the adults in a while. Think about perks and penalties.�
She stood up. �Yes Donald.�
�But let me be clear. Your ass is on the line, at least till I figure out something else. You better tell everyone their ass is, too. I may have just reacted like a fresh lieutenant, but that will keep discipline.� Roberta suspect that was as close as he can come to apologizing, thought Roberta.
�So you want me to spank them?�
�Uh �� Donald got up and paced. He hadn�t meant it literally, but it seemed fair. �Roberta has the right to mild corporal punishment on the other concubines and children. Biological parents may punish their children. We�ll adjust those details later and move towards a single set of rules.� [Beep]
�Roberta, go easy on the kids for now. Just a swat or two to focus their attention, let their parents handle it, but make sure they do.�
�AI, record Robert�s punishments of adults and make a brief summary to me at a convenient time after the incident.� [Beep].
�Also, if anyone thinks you are being unfair then ask me, but be sure to let them know that if I side with you I�ll be annoyed.�
�Yes Donald.�
He gave her a gentle nudge. �Now, let�s see that new body of yours.� He spent several minutes feeling Roberta up, and felt his lust awake, but sent her away with a gentle kiss. He had work to do.
The door shut behind Roberta is she walked out of Donald�s office, and the red light turned on. She glanced at the wall clock in the mess hall and then poked her head in to look at the children. Beth and Jim were talking to each other and watching the small ones. Tracy was apparently walking Steven through a math problem. The AI was interrupting her, clarifying definitions. �AI, if someone is tutoring a child and not providing wrong information, shut up.� [Acknowledged.]. �Just beep to acknowledge, like you do for Donald.� [Beep]. She walked over to Jim, who jumped up and gave a leering whistle. Roberta still had her revealing smock.
�You need a new outfit. That�s delicious.�
Roberta blushed again. �Thanks.�
Beth said �Jim here was just lobbying for a bigger cock.� She lowered her voice a bit, as some kids ran by. �Donald�s giving us a vote.�
Jim shrugged. �I�m doing it for you. For the good of the pod.� �
Both girls laughed, Roberta rolled her eyes and mumbled �I picked out a noble one.� The she leaned over and whispered to Beth. Jim tried to lean in, so Roberta whisked her away. He stood watching the two women smile and talk, and began to worry. Couldn�t they take a joke? Roberta walked back �Where is Janice?� she said out loud.
�Going to turn her against me, too?� [She is in her quarters.] Roberta walked up to the adult quarters, stopped and composed herself in her �Sergeant� face, and then entered Janice�s without knocking. She was lying on the bed reading a book.
�Wow, Roberta. You look great.� Roberta was expecting something like that, so she kept her stern look without much effort.
�Janice. You didn�t watch the kids like you were supposed to this morning.�
�I�m sorry. I was trying to get in to see Donald, and then I came up to do some work and I must have lost track of time.� She looked down at the floor. �I�m not really used to this military thing.�
Roberta wavered. She would have dressed down a recruit instantly, but Janice wasn�t a recruit. Her lingering resentment at Donald disappeared. There were no rules, no guidelines. She dropped her face.
�Look. Nobody knows what to do, its confusing. I know you aren�t comfortable around people, but you can�t just hide up in here reading �� she looked at the stack of folders. �Military reports? On the housing situation?� Roberta saw that Janice held a pad, and was using it to take notes.
�On our situation. Statistics covering incidents of abuse. Things that would be considered abuse anywhere civilized, but are just noted.�
�What exactly do you do? How�d you �� she stopped. The question answered itself. Donald had given her access. The AIs wouldn�t have done that without prompting.
�It�s my area of expertise, Roberta. I�m a historian, specializing in domestic situations.�
Roberta knew she should get back on track, but was intrigued �Harems, like us.�
�I classify this as a Morgantic marriage, but harem works.�
Janice nodded. �That�s why you were there, at the extraction. You weren�t his date, you�re a subject matter expert. He was monitoring your work.� Janice turned away, and Roberta realized she�d struck a nerve.
�OK, that�s why Donald wasn�t really annoyed about the kid thing. Well, we just need to get settled into a routine. I can have the AI remind you of your schedule, once we get settled, we�ll swap chores around so that everyone gets what they like.�
�But I told you, I�m not here for the kids. I mean, they seem nice, but I�m here to do research.�
Roberta considered this. �What is Janice�s status?�
�I told you, I�m �� [Janice Abe is the concubine of Donald Kaufmann.]
�Besides granting her access to these documents, has Donald granted her special privileges?� �[No]
�Janice. Go down and watch the children. You�ll make up the time you missed, and I�ll check with Donald later to see how much he wants you doing this, but.--�
�You have no idea what�s going on, in those other pods.�
Roberta started projecting her voice. �I don�t think you heard me. Or him. Right now getting this family setup is our priority, and that�s my job. The orientation was clear. He owns us. Donald made it clear. I outrank you.�
�I like you, Roberta and��
�Shut up. I just got chewed out by Donald, and the fact we spent the last night together didn�t count for shit. It made it worse.� She lowered her voice and spun around, flashing a still-red behind. �My wonderful new ass should have spent a few minutes riding him as a thank you, but instead I got spanked, because I talked to him like my ex. Don�t go confusing things because you�ll be his lover, too.� Roberta could see Janice was shaken up, so kept pressing.
�Get your ass down to watch the kids or I promise I�ll take it down later, and redder.� Janice sat there, looking stunned; Roberta did not want to have to spank her � one last idea. �AI, confirm my threat.� [Roberta Smith is allowed to punish concubines as she sees fit, including corporal punishment.]
Janice dropped her papers, got up. �I�m sorry I messed up.�
Janice rushed down past Beth and Jim and sat down near the small kids. They don�t really need watching. Her mind was racing, was it already too late for Donald? He wasn�t a psychopath, she felt, but did he agree with those who insisted on slavery for the new society, or had he just not been willing to fight it? He�d organized the group, but had stayed quiet the few meetings he�d attended. She needed more time.
Beth left Jim, still extolling the virtues of the 9th inch, and walked over to Janice.
�Hi Janice.�
�Uh Hi, Bethanny.�
�Just Beth, I guess. After all, we�re -- well, we�re something. Sister concubines. It�s not so bad, actually. Reminds me of college.�
�Most sororities at my college seemed uptight. Networking to get ahead.�
�Well, yeah!� Beth replied, happy to have a subject she knew. Janice intimidated her. �But there�s always the one with those girls. That�s the one I wanted to join.�
�Why?�
�Lots of girls got drunk and then screwed a guy they liked. But that was just a cover. They needed an excuse. Not us. We Lambdas took the bull by the horn.�
�How did that work out?�
�I got hurt, sometimes. You always get hurt, sometimes. But you also get hurt not acting. That part�s just tougher to see. Those goodies who kept themselves pure and teased instead of pleased? Did they get better men as a result? I can�t see it. Most of my sisters did pretty good, some did fantastic, some did terrible. Even if we just broke even, we had a lot more fun.� She hung her head down. �We had fun.�
�You miss your husband.�
�God. I mean, I wouldn�t give up my past. But we had it good. It�s like we�re -- reverting or something. Kids, then teenagers, then wild college girl, then glowing newlywed, then the first baby, then the family. Each time you transition, you recognize the milestones, but it sinks in later. Suddenly you wake up a few days after your anniversary, find yourself at work, and say �When did this happen?��
Janice picked up. �But you can�t ignore this. It�s -- jarring.� Beth nodded. �You�re disoriented. You don�t have friends. You don�t have parents. Your husband. You have your kids, but Roberta didn�t know any of us two days ago. It�s tough.�
�Right.�
�I�m used to feeling alone. I knew Donald before, a little. I had a crush on him. But I miss my friends, colleagues. The routine. It sounds selfish, comparing my schedule to your husband. But it�s what I had. And the worst part? I saw this coming, but I still miss it. It doesn�t help. I feel lost.�
�We find the bearings we can, but even our bodies are changed.�
�Thank God for that� shouted Brenda, who�d walked in a minute ago. She ran in front of them and did a cartwheel. A half cartwheel, really, since she fell forward instead of rotating around. The robe she was wearing flashed everyone a bit, but the kids were laughing because of the cartwheel. Kids started tumbling, trying to do cartwheels and mainly failing, and falling near and on Brenda, who just kept laughing. She jumped up, rubbing her elbow and pressed between the two women.
�I miss my life, too. I shouldn�t, looking like this, feeling great. But everything has a price. Young and skinny, no pain in my joints? We got off cheap. You never know for sure, but I think we made out like bandits.� She was posing for them. Roberta had increased her curves, but Brenda had flattened herself out. Petite. The weight was gone, of course. She looked girlish and elfin. A-cup. Her previously brown hair was now a platinum-blond bob. It was tough to tell how old she was supposed to look. Her smile was radiant as she went from Adult to child, hugging each in turn.
�I�m going to get a bit shorter too, but that will take some treatments. They said I'd be sore for a few days. I�ll be down to five-three in a few months.�
Beth smiled at Brenda, then said, to nobody in particular. �Strange lives.�
Roberta had come in, after her break. Daytime revolved around the kids, so everyone was here. Small clumps of children separated for lessons in the classroom area set in the back. Tracy was tutoring, along with the AIs. [Jim. Please report for medical enhancement.] He jumped up and ran away.
Beth yelled to Roberta � �So much for our plan!�
Janice asked �What plan?�
�Oh, I�m behind in my gossiping. Apparently Donald was planning on asking us about their preferences for uh, packages� she coughed as some kids ran by, �and Jim was lobbying. Our plan, well, Roberta�s mainly, was to delay the vote and make him earn his cock, one sweet pussy-licking at a time.�
�I guess there won�t be a poll, after all.�
[You are incorrect, Janice] said the AI. [Please state your preferences in the next five minutes. Donald has stated that he your answer will be anonymous. Be advised that your own procedure will allow you to accommodate a wide variety of sizes. Speak quietly to the air when you have decided.] Janice saw the other women listening intently. Apparently the AI could speak to individuals in a crowded room. �
Tracy came running out of the classroom, and the woman all huddled together and started arguing. The men were waiting in Donald�s office.
�What do you think they�ll pick?�
�Honestly? No idea. Women say size doesn�t matter, but it does. They just have the good graces to realize we can�t control it.�
�Until now.�
[The women are conferring as a group. Polling implies lack of co-ordination. Do you wish them to stop?]
�No.� �Yes.� [Beep]
�Make them stop! They were conspiring this morning.�
�What was the conspiracy?�
�I don�t know��
�Look. They�re going to conspire against us. That�s what women do. We�d best �. Fuck it. Let�s hear them.� [Should I inform them you have revoked privacy?]
�Hell no.�
�I say we go for that Andersen guy�s model.�
�Anderseen.�
�Whatever. Long and thick, just below a porn star. What do you think Brenda?�
�I made myself small. No matter what they picked, I�d get more. Old me would try a footlong, but my pussy aint stretched out by kids anymore. Maybe 7 to 9 inches. We�re going to have to suck those things, too.�
�If they can shrink Brenda, I�m sure I can stretch to handle something big. May as well start at the top -- but the blowjob thing.� Tracy sounded nervous.
�Oh, I can teach you how to handle that, guys love it if they are just slightly too big for you to suck, at first. I swallowed eleven inches once, but I�d had this average guy and stop halfway and choke. You mumble �so big.� Then when you finally get him all the way next morning, he�s yours for life.�
�Well, if I�m getting training, I think 10 inches.�
�Brave girl.�
Janice interrupted. �Normally these decisions last for a long time, but I think Donald�s rank means we can make adjustments. Maybe we could start at respectable and upgrade to slightly scary later. Guys go nuts if you try to downsize them.� That brought up a whole spate of arguments.
Roberta interrupted �Let�s just assume this decision sticks, for now. Beth, are you voting the size-queen ticket?�
�No. Frank was only average, and a fine fuck. I�m sure we can train these two. I say let them choose, but tell them we�ll make fun of anything over 9 inches as overcompensation.�
�For what? A small dick?� They all broke out laughing.
�OK, we�re pretty much agreed. We want them to have some variety, and the size queens are outvoted.� Roberta was steering the conversation, having noticed the wall clock�s countdown timer had 90 seconds left. �Who gets the bigger cock?
[The poll did not specify anything about]
�Can it.�
Brenda said that Donald should have the bigger cock, so he�d feel better. Roberta argued he should be smaller as one last vestige of humility. (�He�ll need that, and he�s already knows how to use what he�s got�) Janice said �Jim should be bigger. We�ll be fucking him more.� Everyone agreed that the smaller cock should be significantly thicker, to keep both men happy and provide variety.
�AI, summarize what you�ve heard!�
[The consensus selections are a thick seven inch penis and a proportional nine inch penis. There is no consensus as to which male should receive which modification. Thin and thick are defined compared to the body type of the male. Each individual please confirm that statements or modify them.]
�Turn off bugging.� Donald sat down. �When Beth chokes on your cock but then manages to get it down through sheer willpower, act grateful.� [Polling complete. Do you want to re-hear the summary?] �No.�
Jim pointed to the replicator. �Does that thing make beer?�
�We�re working on it.�
Donald sighed. �Accept the women�s suggestions. I�ll take the thick seven inch cock. Give Jim the nine-inch model� [Beep]. �Like the lady said, it�s still an upgrade.�
�Well, it looks like our women have bonded.�
�It does at that, but sex complicates everything. We�re still in the honeymoon. Get to the medical tubes. I�ll be along in a minute.� Jim headed for the door.
�Send confirmation to Admiral Chen regarding his orders. Roberta is in charge until I get back, try to get everyone else altered before morning, but let Roberta stagger them to handle babysitting.� [Beep]. Jim was gone when Donald got up and headed for the door.
�And add a quarter inch to my cock. That means 7 and a quarter, not one quarter larger than now.�
Donald returned late the next afternoon. Combat modifications took time, and he�d talked to Corporal Sanchez about how to adjust and toured the ship. When got back, everyone was in the classroom or recreation area. He dived into playing with the kids, running around. The kids were playing tag, so he ran up to Roberta, kissed her and shouted �Tag.� He was running away before she caught on. After a few minutes, he went from child to child, seeing who remembered him, talking to the younger ones about their day. Or whatever they wanted to talk about. He didn�t keep track of the information, he was just taking their temperature. The younger kids seemed fine He heard �Mommy looks different� several times, but never with malice. Steven, the lanky �chief of the kids� was the most distracted. He might feel the full force of puberty, but he wasn�t oblivious to what had happened.
Beth looked like a young Irish lass. Red hair, green eyes, full hips and nearly D-cup breasts. Actually her hair was still a bit brown, but with reddish tinges. She�d gotten some lipstick from the replicator and had fashioned a green knee-high skirt. Roberta had allowed for fashion.
Tracy�s skin was smooth and clean and the braces were gone, but she was otherwise unchanged. She was wearing a schoolgirl uniform, with a crisp white top, plaid skirt, and regulation socks. Donald wondered if she was just teasing him or if she actually went to catholic school.� He wasn�t sure if he�d forgotten or just didn�t know.
Janice had peeled away nearly twenty years. She wasn�t as voluptuous as Beth or Roberta, but looked attractive, despite her poor fitting clothes. Her beauty mark was gone. Jim looked basically the same. Donald glanced at the clock, it would be dinner soon. He headed for his room. �Wake me up when dinner is served.�
Donald straggled into the mess a bit late, grabbed a tray and loaded it down. He was tearing into a drumstick before he sat down. The older kids table was quiet. The younger kids grumbled about the meal. But most of them had skimped on lunch, so chicken and green beans were being grudgingly swallowed.
Donald said, to nobody in particular, �The six year olds are vets, already. Dealing with mindless rules, but constantly complaining.� He drank a huge gulp of tea, and dove into his meal. Roberta, Beth and Brenda were hashing out the kids schedules, in between interruptions and mild calls to behave directed towards the kids. He ate while they worked it out, then eventually set his fork down on an empty plate.
�That�s good. But once kids hit twelve or so, let them pick an area they want to study, and ease back on general knowledge.�
Beth said �That doesn�t sound like a good way to run school�
�Better to become an expert in one field, now that we have AIs. And focusing on something they chose builds determination. That�s more important. Jim, did you ever coach little league?�
�I helped out my brother a few years ago.�
�Mix some PE in there. Mainly games, but some strength and endurance training. When they are older, some may enlist and upgrade to military strength muscles, but they still hurt when you push past normal limits.� The table looked at him.
�I did a few minutes with the marines. Look, our goal is to get these kids up to where they can volunteer, if they want.�
Beth said �And if they don�t qualify?�
�They become mine, but keeping them is a touchy issue. I�d prefer if they got a choice in their future. Anyway, schooling is all about facts. We want character, that shows up in the scores. But we�ve got a good basis.�
He stood up. �Time to go be Santa Claus one last time. Don�t worry, Roberta, I�ll be their grinch soon enough.� He walked over to the kids table. �Its our first Friday night, so I think we can have a slumber party. After you clean up your area, the AI has set up a two small rooms. Little kids control one, big kids get the other. You can go wherever you want, but you only get to pick what you want to watch in your room. They have movies or video games. Everyone play nice, and if the AI tells you to do something, do it, or you�ll be in trouble!� The kids area was rapidly clearing as children screamed. Tommy, the youngest, was last out the door, following the bigger kids mainly by force of habit.
Donald sat back down and took a swig of tea. ��The AI will handle it. I�m taking the weekend off. I suggest you all do the same. There�s no entertainment, unless you really want to watch kids movies. No outside world. Only four beds and each other.�
He clasped Tracy�s hand. �Would you like to go bed?� She bounced up, hugged him and started pulling him out the door.
�And Jim, it turns out that first night thing is a myth. I guess everyone else is fair game. Play nice, ladies.� He grabbed Tracy, carrying her towards his room, his young bride, as she clutched her arms around his neck.
Donald carried her across the threshold and kicked the door shut, then set her down gently and kissed her, sending tension down her spine. She felt one hand unbuttoning her top slowly, and she reached for his belt, but he pulled her hands back up. She ran her hands through his hair and kissed him. She could barely reach around him to clasp her hands together for a tight hug. His stroked her neck, his tongue gently probing her mouth, the other hand finishing off the last buttons of her blouse. She pulled her head back and grabbed the hem of his shirt, pulled it over his head and tossed it aside, then threw her top after it.
Last week she had been worried about the prom. Most of the boys ignored her, and those that hadn�t were nice enough, but nobody she�d pined over. If an older boy asked her out, she figured she�d wind up in a back seat or motel, but she expected to be asked and hadn�t decided if she�d say �yes.� Donald unsnapped her bra and was sliding it off, she was running her hands up and down his chest, eyes wide not from innocence but to absorb every detail. He nudged her gently into the pillows and took one nipple into his mouth. Aah. Aaaahh. Rather than look at the ceiling she closed her eyes, still stroking his head, feeling his tongue dance around. Her heartbeat drowned out the sounds he made, but the air smelled of him. He ran his tongue up her neck then kissed her again, gently cupping one breast, then the other. He guided her hand to his chest and Tracy�s opened her eyes, questioning. Then she felt his thudding heart beat and a (braces-free!) smile made her laugh. She started kissing him again His fingers were a lazy pendulum, sweeping back and forth, teasing and tracing. When they got to her skirt, Donald flipped it up and started caressing her thighs, reaching around to feel her buttocks. Now the air smells like both of us. His fingers were gliding back and forth, and she shuddered. She sat up and kissed him, both hands at his belt this time, insistent.
Donald was on his knees and grabbed her underwear. She lifted herself off the bed as he undressed her, and she wondered if he�d left her skirt on for effect or if she had gotten to him. Donald stood up straight, undid his pants, and took them off, throwing them into the corner. His cock strained against his underwear, but he pulled those down and stepped out. She�d seen a cock before, although just boys her own age. But none of them had been aroused. The head was darker than she�d imagined, and pre-cum was dripping down. She ran her hand up her side, inviting. Donald climbed into bed, but surprised her by ducking his head between her thighs and licking her for a minute or two. None of her friends had ever mentioned a boy doing this with a blowjob first! She relaxed. It felt good, like cheating on a test and getting away with it. He slowly kissed up her body, right past the breasts but pausing at the neck, she spread her legs further. He kissed her gently the lips, but she had her arms around his neck, trying to pull him down. Her tongue was insistent and exploring, He reached down and slid the head in gently, then stopped and pulled his face back and looked into her eyes. Tracy nodded and closed her eyes. He slid forward quickly; firmly taking her virginity. She let out a whoosh of air and held still for a few seconds, it hadn�t been too bad. Like a bee sting, scarier before it happened. Had the modifications made it easier? She realized her hips were rocking gently. He started a slow gentle motion. She could see his face, full of love and something else, pride suddenly mixed with confusion and anger.
Donald let out a strangled �No!� when his orgasm consumed him.
Tracy stiffened in surprise, but held him tight. Donald tried to bury his head in her shoulder, embarrassed but she pulled their lips together. His cock was still hard, but to sensitive to thrust. He felt her muscles squeeze him, gently, and he knew that it would only take a few minutes. He kissed her, holding it, his new muscles effortlessly keeping his weight off her. When he broke the kiss, Donald smiled at her and started again with slow strokes.
Tracy�s legs wrapped around him, urging him faster.
Back at the table, everyone froze when Donald carried Tracy away. A minute before, they had expected an orderly, unalterable procession. One honeymoon at a time. Not a free for all. Jim had a shit-eating grin.
Roberta got up. �I�ve still got a glow from before, so I�ll just��
�Sit down girl.� Beth looked at Jim. �What did you get? Let�s see it.� Jim glanced at the kids area and Beth stood up. �Fine, let�s go upstairs. Are you happy with your cock?�
�Nice.� She had her hands down his pants as they walked �Girls, I think Donald took our advice. Now stud, time to pay up.�
�What?�
Beth spun Jim around so he was facing her and Roberta, when she answered. �Roberta and I agreed that you could have any cock you wanted, but you�d pay on the �pussy licking installment plan.� The rest of the girls agreed.� Brenda and Janice were nodding vigorously when he turned to look at them. �I�m sure you would have agreed, wouldn�t you? So rather than have a catfight over tonight, we�ll just start with that.�
Beth kept a tight grip on his cock, and kept leading him towards the bed. Just keep acting like it�s a done deal, and Jim will follow along. The rest of the girls were getting undressed.
Janice piped up. �We agreed on a random order, if we got to decide.�
Roberta said �I�ll still go last� and when nobody insisted, she continued. �AI. please give us a random ordering of Janice, Beth and Brenda.� [Brenda then Janice then Beth.]
Beth pushed Jim onto the bed, using his cock as a lever. Brenda climbed up and presented her nearly hairless pussy. �The way you handled me then, you�ll love me now.� Jim started licking� as Beth pulled down his shorts.
�Now, that is a nice cock� Beth said as the others looked on. Had Jim seen her performance at the restaurant? She didn�t think so. She quickly took the tip in, sucking gently. �It�s so big, but maybe I can manage it.� Jim couldn�t see the rest of the women smiling at Beth as she winked and dived down part way, choking a bit. Brenda could practically feel Jim�s smile, and knew he was putty in her hands�
Donald was resting on his back, running his hands across Tracy�s ass. She was on her side across his chest, staring at his cock, rubbing it gently. �It�s sooo cute!� She turned her head back and smiled. �When it�s hard and throbbing, it demands attention, but now �� she trailed off and turned her attention back to his crotch.
Donald had fought the urge to apologize. Tracy�s orgasm the second time convinced him he�d made the right call. How many women enjoyed their first time at all? He stayed silent, enjoying the moment, content in running his hands along her body, replaying the little sounds she�d made, enjoying her touch. He felt her weight shift, and she gave a tentative lick or two. His cock twitched.
Light blared from the wall as Admiral Chen�s face appeared. �I just wanted to --another time.� Tracy was scrambling under the sheets, blushing furiously. Donald pulled her close. �Sorry. I didn�t think he�d call. He gave me the weekend off, after all.�
�He�s going to think I�m a slut!� Tracy smiled. �Hey, I am a slut! That�s the point. You picked me to be your slut, and I accepted.� She tossed back the covers, stradled his stomach and planted a kiss on his forehead then lips.
�I�m happy with my choice.�
�I�m happy with mine.� He felt his cock rising slowly, throbbing. Tracy slid down so she straddled his knees, gently grabbed his cock, gently stroking and watching it rise.
Jim�s head was firmly between Roberta�s legs, so he only had a general impression of what she was yelling. He took it as a complement. Clothes were everywhere, the AI having been told in no uncertain terms to turn kids away from the adult dorm. Any body issues from their earlier lifetime were gone, suppressed by new bodies and nanite-enhanced libidos. Roberta quieted down and relaxed. Jim stood up, his cock jutting in front of him.
Roberta said �I�m going to be noble and let the three of you fight over him.� She got up, a bit unsteadily. �If the beast needs taming after my nap � my door�s open.� She was steady when she left and went to what she thought of as her room (even though it had merged with a neighbor during dinner).
Janice got up. �I�ll join her.� Her voice quavered a bit. Beth raised any eyebrow, but didn�t say anything.
Brenda said �More for us.� She turned to Beth. �Rock paper scissors?�
Janice slipped into the bed next to Roberta, then cuddled up next to her. �Do you mind?� Roberta smiled and gave her a kiss, and the tension drained away from Janice�s shoulders. �After my nap.�
�How was your first time?� Tracy was on her stomach, watching Donald walk to the replicator for water.
�What?�
�Well, it seems only fair. You know all the sordid details of my first time. I know you do something for the Confederacy.� He handed her the glass, and she took a sip. While Donald got back into bed, Tracy fished out a piece of ice and ran it across his chest, watching his muscles tighten. Every time his chest flexed, her heart jumped.
�I do logistics.�
�Moving stuff around? Not fighting?�
�Yup, just boring old moving stuff around.� He reached over for the glass, angling for a piece of his own. His was defensive over �not fighting?�, but the confederacy knew the value of logistics. He put the thought out of his mind, and brought ice to an exposed breast, circling around while avoiding the nipple. He could see the reactions playing across her face.
�That�s very interesting, but the story of your first time would probably top it.�
�There�s not much to tell. That�s the story for pretty much any guy. I was a junior in high school. I wasn�t a big man on campus or anything, but I looked pretty good. I�d gotten pegged as a dweeb earlier, so girls avoided me. Do they still say dweeb? Anyway, I was on the swim team. I liked it, you practice with the girls team. Closest thing to a harem they had. Most of us had constant erections. Young athletic women in bathing suits one lane away from you will do that.� He took a sip of water.
�Anyway, Julie was a sophomore, and didn�t know I was a dweeb.� Tracy rolled onto her side, hands folded under the side of her head, and stared dreamily at him. �We dated, movies and whatnot, and then she got me over one night when her parents were out. We were necking, her hand went undid my pants, pulled out my cock and I came all over the couch. She freaked and spent the next hour trying to clean up. If you ask everyone here, the story ends with the guy coming way too early.�
�Although one or two of my friends guessed when a girl was going to invite him over and made sure that they�d jacked off enough to last a respectable time. Like, after he�d got in her pussy.� Donald emphasized the last point.
�So, did you ever see her again?�
�Oh yeah. She was surprised, but all her friends told her it was normal. Like I said, it�s the same story all over. Anyway, we had a great time, but her first orgasm from straight sex wasn�t until we�d been dating for months.�
�Were you really that clueless about women?�
�We weren�t in a harem, and her parents hated me. We could only get together with any hope of privacy every other week, so I was on a hair trigger each time we started.�
��Then what?�
�We stayed together until I graduated.� Donald took another sip and shrugged. �Then I was busy with college and the military. Besides, if I tell you all my secrets now what will we do later?� She returned his smile, then propped herself up on elbow. His eyes followed her breasts, and he reached over and pulled Tracy into a kiss.
Roberta woke up when she rolled onto her breast at let out a surprised gasp. She massaged the pinch away, then Janice�s hand joined in, holding firmly on. The lights had been dimmed, but Janice saw Roberta�s shoulders suddenly tense. Janice leaned in for a kiss, thankful when it wasn�t avoided. After a few minutes, she rolled Roberta on her back, then planted a trail of kisses down her chest. Roberta lifted her head.
�We could �.�
Janice met her eyes, lips planted on belly button. She released it with a loud smack! �I know what I want.� She kissed beneath the belly button. �Is that OK?� Another kiss. Roberta closed her eyes, leaning her head back. She quickly realized that Jim had more experience, Janice�s tongue hesitated and explored. Darting from place to place until she settled in on long, smooth licks. Roberta relaxed and let out her breath, and that was all the encouragement Janice needed. Roberta�s first orgasm built slowly, but the subsequent ones built up faster and faster.
Next door, Jim collapsed on Brenda, small beads of sweat on his brow falling into her hair. He quickly rolled over, his back bumped up against Beth, who wrapped one arm around him. Brenda scootched close and slid up, so that all three heads were level, then flopped down.
Beth�s hand was stroking Jim�s stomach, the better to monitor Jim�s cock. She wanted another go. �I don�t care what you say, Brenda. He�s a keeper.�
Brenda was still in a haze. �Jim I -- don�t listen to her.�
�She was joking. Teasing me.� Jim slid an arm under each woman and then pulled them closer. �It�s like in elementary school. You tease the kids you like.� His voice was flat. Beth�s eyes narrowed. She was being playful and had expected joking and giggling, like the night had started out with. Her mind raced. -- What was this? Was he saying I like him, but couldn�t admit it? He hadn�t teased me at all, was he telling me to back off? This isn�t a one night stand, I�ve got to live with this guy. Maybe I�m overthinking it. I could leave now, but then I�d either have to crash the girls party or masturbate. The best orgies have more men.� -- She kissed his cheek.
�I was just joking Brenda. I, uh, don�t want us fighting over him. Imagine how it would be if the other two hadn�t left�.� Beth trailed off, and started imagining the future. She knew, from hanging out with the other moms, that most of them got tired of sex soon after their first kid. She had too, but that was just lack of sleep.
�Sounds to me like they�re doing just fine to me.� Brenda chipped in, as Roberta stifled a scream, followed by a few gasps. Beth wasn�t listening.
Janice had crawled back up to Roberta, retracing her kisses. �Give me a few minutes, please?� Janice smiled into her face, then finished with a quick kiss before settling in on her stomach, chin propped into her hands, searching Roberta�s face for any trace of regret. Roberta�s breathing settled down.
�That was amazing, you were amazing.�
Janice blushed, but shrugged. �Those upgrades made us all firecrackers. Did you hear the next room?� Roberta shook her head no. �A teenager couldn�t have recovered from a blowjob and then fuck twice in the time they�ve had�� Roberta rolled on top of Janice, pushed herself onto her hands and knees, straddling and kissing.
Janice melted. �I�m sorry about before.�
�It�s done. You apologized before. The military has all these ways ��
Janice shook her head. �I know. I didn�t just forget, I was just mad. Donald was mine. I mean, he was never going to notice me down there. I was outclassed. But when we all get picked.�
�You were going to be his favorite.�
�I mean, I already knew him. Or I thought I did. Then when picked me, I really believed it. I was gloating. I�d glanced around the restaurant and thought �there�s nobody here to worry about.� I�m sorry, it wasn�t nice, but I was so smug.�
�I know. He skipped Tracy, then came back and picked her. She went from angry to crying to glee.�
�And he wasn�t just saving me, he was incensed. He�d thought I�d be picking my own harem. He believes in my research, which is more than I do� Roberta was mulling this silently, slightly offended, but Janice kept talking. �But I�m not his favorite.�
�I don�t think he has a favorite.�
�I know, but it crushed me. And now I know I was wrong; everyone else he saved is better suited for this. Everyone here is part of his plan � except me. I�m his charity case. I�m so sorry.� Janice broke down and started crying and apologizing. Roberta cradled Janice kept stroking her hair. There was movement at the door; Roberta saw Brenda standing there, brow furrowed. She watched for a moment then backed out, closing the door behind her.
Beth had been pumping Jim�s half-erect cock, well lubricated from earlier, when they�d heard the crying. She�d stopped, but was still holding him at the base. �What�s going on?� she asked as Brenda came back.
�I�m not sure. Janice was crying, but I think Roberta�s got it.� Beth resumed slow strokes. Soon Jim�s cock was standing straight, but with some give. Brenda watched while Beth kept pumping and whispered something to Jim; he nodded. After a few minutes, she seemed satisfied and climbed onto him, lowered herself on his cock. Beth started the same deliberate motion, her ass a metronome gently keeping time against Jim�s thighs. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Brenda studied Jim�s face. His chin reminded her of her husband�s, back before they married. He appeared relaxed; normally his jaw muscles were working, although he didn�t say much. Shifting slightly, Brenda saw Beth�s concentration, like Jim was a puzzle to be solved. Her eyes flitted between the two. Jim relaxing; oblivious, blind in a world of feeling. Beth concentrating; focused, clearly watching. But feeling? Brenda wasn�t sure. She sat, silent until suddenly Jim sat up and clutched Beth tight. His face clenched, he held on for a few hearbeats, shuddered slightly and sank back� Beth leaned forward, kissed him then bent further and nibbled on his ear, whispering again. She climbed off him and pulled a sheet over him, covering him from the stomach down. Beth walked around towards the door, motioning for Brenda to follow.
�What was that all about?�
�A peace offering. And I was curious. Some men could go at that pace for hours if they�d come earlier that evening. Most men would never stay hard after two recent fucks. That was his forth�� she faded, Brenda was showing disapproval. �What?�
�That seems, cold. Unfeeling.�
�I don�t feel the world shake every time I suck cock, either, but I didn�t hear you complaining. Or Jim.�
�I guess I didn�t think about it like that. I just couldn�t figure out what was going on. Sorry.�
�I�m just taking care of him, maybe worrying a little. Let�s climb back into bed. I bet he wakes up smiling and hard.�
Jim did wake up with an erection. He felt the woman on either side and thought �I�ve gone to heaven, and these are way better than harps.� The clock showed some time before the kids would be allowed out of their dorm, but he just slipped out of bed, put on shorts and a T-shirt and went for some coffee. Donald was there, nodded and kept drinking his. After each man had half a cup, things warmed up a bit. Last week, Jim would have bragged to everyone at the site about having two women in one night, and his performance. Now it seemed, if not routine, not unusual. It would be like coming back from your honeymoon and crowing that you scored. Everyone would believe you, but you wouldn�t earn any respect. Fortunately Donald appeared curious.
�How often?�
�Five times. I think. I may have dreamt the last. Or lost count. Each time past the first felt like a morning after a nice night, you know? You could come quickly under the right circumstances, or hold out. You?�
�Just four, although I�ll go wake Tracy up in a bit � Uh, you should know she was a virgin. She�s not as extensively modified yet. She might feel it today. The modifications get rid of lingering soreness, for the rest.�
�Well, if you were her first, I don�t think it matters.� Jim shook his head. This guy popped out of nowhere, saved her, probably gave her the night of her life when she lost her cherry in a nice bed instead of the back of a car, and thinks she�ll just move on. Smart guys acted dumb, sometimes.
�Why didn�t you modify her?�
�I figured she�d already be shocked, even if she thought it was a good shock. Catholic school wallflower to kept woman in a few days.� [Tracy�s heartbeat indicates she will wake up in several minutes.] Beth came downstairs in a shift, kissed Donald as he was walking out, then hugged Jim from behind. He paused, feeling her breasts against his back for a second. A few kids rushed in, and she kissed his cheek.
�Sorry, breakfast duty.� She stood up and turned around.
�Who wants French Toast?�
�Should we go downstairs?� Janice asked, her head touching Roberta�s shoulder, as both women stared at the ceiling.
�We�ve got time.�
�About that --.�
�Look, it just happened. There�s nothing to say.�
Janice rolled over and stared into Roberta�s eyes. �No, it didn�t just happen. I wanted you. I followed you and I had you. It didn�t just happen; I was scared it wouldn�t happen at all. I�m not talking about that.� She stopped. �Do you regret it?� Her voice quavered slightly.
�No. It wasn�t expected. I�ve had a chance or two but I was never into women. It seemed like a good idea at the time and it was. A good idea..� She hugged Janice. �You were talking about the crying. Sorry. This must be hard.�
�It is. The crying was a lot of things. I was so focused on getting you in bed, making you happy, that when I realized how much I�d gambled and I�d won �
�You felt overwhelmed?�
�I felt like I�d cheated and didn�t deserve it. You�re like, a fantasy of mine. I mainly dated guys, but there was this one girl � you remind me of her. Beautiful. Commanding.�
�Did you two?�
�No, I could never get up the courage. Now you�re built just like Amy. And I almost blew it because of that stupid stunt yesterday.� Another kiss.
�Well, you�re just lucky I didn�t tan your ass.� Janice blushed furiously and then Roberta sat up. �Ooh. Commanding, was she?� She started chuckling, then laughing. �You weren�t afraid when I threatened to spank you, you were startled. Then scared.�
�Do you still want it?� Janice hesitated, then nodded, burying her head where Roberta couldn�t see her face. �Go stand at attention at the foot of the bed.�
�AI, is this room soundproof?� �[Yes, when doors are closed] �When you report this, what will��
Janice�s eyes widened, �I won�t tell! No, you�� [I deem that this is not a punishment, and therefore not something I will report unless requested.]
Roberta looked at Janice. �He could spy on us anytime. I doubt you�ll be able to keep this a secret long. Are you sure? And can I get some general directions?�
�Yes, I do. Nothing too rough, but something I�ll feel for a few hours. Just, you know, a teacher correcting a pupil.�
�Well� I�ve never been a teacher.� Roberta took a few steps to the side, drew in a deep breath� �Cadet Concubine Abe! Don�t stare at me like that, eyes forward, girl. What the hell do you think you are doing, skipping an assignment? Hands at your sides! Didn�t your momma ever teach you not to pull your fingernails? Well, I can�t hear you?�
�No, Ma�am!� Janice eyes couldn�t resist the urge to follow Roberta, who was circling around her.
�That�s what I thought. Eyes straight ahead!� Smack! Janice jumped, cheek stinging. �Keep still! Now, what happens to concubines who can�t even follow orders?�
�They get spanked, Ma�am.�
�I can�t hear you.�
�They Get Spanked, Ma�am!�
�Damn straight they get spanked. When I tell you to,� smack �you will bend over that bed so that your perky little breasts are just touching the sheets, and present that ass (smack smack) for the spanking you so richly deserve. And you are going to keep this hands locked behind your head. Do you understand me?�
�Yes, Ma�am!�
�Well, get on over there!� Janice rushed over to the bed, each hand grabbing some hair, and bent forward. She felt Roberta behind her, watching her. Janice waited, feeling stupid for worrying that Donald would abuse her and then shyly asking Roberta. No, not stupid. This was her fantasy. She wanted it. The stinging had subsided, but now her muscles trembled. Why didn�t Roberta start? I�m either going to like this or not, I can�t deal with saving the world.
The first hard slap hit her left cheek, and she popped up a little bit, Robert�s hand was on her back instantly �Get back into position!�
�Sorry, ma�am!� Roberta�s hand slid over her ass, then slipped between them. One finger slid easily into her waiting pussy. Janice wanted to gasp, to stay silent, to beg for more, to end it. Roberta quickly withdrew, increasing her torment.
��Count them out!�
Spank! �One, Ma�am.� Roberta paused, watching the right cheek color. Then she started in a slow rhythm, with hard slaps. Smack! �Two, Ma�am!� Smack! �Three, Ma�am!�
�Keep those hands and breasts in place, or you�ll get extras!� Janice tried to freeze, but kept shifting her weight from side to side, not even conscious of it. I don�t deserve this; but I want this.
�Yes, Ma�am!� Smack �Four, Ma�am� Smack �Five, Ma�am� Smack �Six, Ma�am!� Roberta paused, Janice�s voice had cracked and her breathing was somewhat ragged. Roberta ran her left hand over Janice, feeling the heat. Her right hand stung slightly, but she brushed it against a still wet pussy, then loudly sucked her finger.
�I think my cadet is enjoying this. I can see my normally pleasant and laid-back attitude is partially to blame for this situation. Thankfully, whose ass is on the line?� She waited a second, then Smack! �Whose ass is on the line?�
�Mine, ma�am. Seven, Ma�am!�
Roberta decided to make things more personal. Her pussy tingled slightly. but she�d never enjoyed the drill instructor role. She issued out more hard swats, making it an even dozen, then ordered �concubine cadet Abe� to stand up. There were tears on Janice�s cheek, but Roberta saw no sign things had gone overboard.
�To make sure you get the message, I�m going to take you across my knee like the insubordinate little girl you are,. You don�t need to count the spanks. You won�t be able to anyway. Then you are going to thank me and prove to me you�ve learned your lesson by making my pussy shine. Do you understand me?�
�Yes, ma�am.�
�Then move!� Janice tried to place herself across Roberta�s knee, but had kept her hands in her hair. Roberta grabbed her left wrist and pushed her hand to the floor. Janice dropped the other hand. The toes of her feet were on the floor, heels lifted. Roberta started with a small slaps, just to get a feel. Then she picked up the pace, watching Janice�s ass jiggle on each stroke. Spank Spank Spank Spank, a �hup-two-three-four� cadence. Janice felt her ass clenched tightly as if controlled by someone else. Spank Spank Spank Spank. She breathed in gulps, counting to herself. Her fantasy had hundreds of spanks (one a second while she fingered herself to orgasm) Spank spank spank spank Janice was overwhelmed, lost, had even forgotten that stopping was an option �Spank spank spank spank Her ass felt huge, the too-radiant center of her universe, her pussy forgotten. Spank spank spank spank.
Roberta saw Janice crying freely, gave a final �1-2-3-4� and then stopped, her stinging hand on her thigh. She just sat, listening and watching. After another minute, she gently prompted �What do you say?�
�Thank you, Ma�am.� Janice got up slowly, and once she was standing started rubbing her ass, taking in the heat, surprised that her hands reported it as normal. Her brain told her it was swollen. Roberta spread her legs, and when Janice saw her arousal she dropped to her knees, looked up into her eyes. �Thank you, ma�am.� Then she went to work. Roberta gasped and fell back slightly, catching herself with her right hand, her left gently wrapped in Janice�s smooth black hair.
Tracy poked her head out of the master bedroom then joined them for breakfast. Jim wasn�t sure if she moved a bit stiffly or if the earlier conversation was making him see things. Beth tried to make small talk, but Tracy just wolfed down some toast �I�m late!� she gulped down a glass of juice. �I�m sorry everyone, I totally forgot.� She rushed out towards the adult dorm.
Brenda swallowed some cereal. �That girl is positively glowing.� Jim stared at the last of his coffee. He�d looked at the schedule when he�d gotten up, and Tracy wasn�t supposed to watch the kids for a few hours. He glanced at Beth, and saw her whispering. He couldn�t make out much, but years having construction managers yelling over jackhammers and drills let him pick out �schedule.� She�d noticed, too. Jim didn�t bother asking for the updates, he�d asked for a five minute reminder before he went on call. He heard someone dashing out of the dorm, and instead of Tracy saw Roberta, flush. She knocked and disappeared into Donald�s room. The sleepy stragglers were coming down, stretching and giggling. The lift beat the kiddie rides at the carnival, to be sure. Brenda cleaned up and helped Beth with the final breakfast orders. She stopped.
�Is five minutes ok? The kids are hungry�� She spoke in a normal tone of voice, a bit louder actually, and turned towards the ceiling when she spoke. Tracy rushed past and into the children�s area. She�d taken a minute to brush her hair and adjust her clothes. Brenda spent two minutes picking up trays of food and delivering them to the younger children. Roberta exited just as Brenda went into the Master Bedroom. He sat down next to the kids. Tommy said �You are Melissa�s dad. You didn�t change much. Not like mom.� He nodded and prodded them to stop playing with their food and eat.
�If you aren�t hungry, I guess I�ll take it.� He swiped part of a pancake and the kids started eating. After breakfast, he realized he did care about his schedule �When am I supposed to be working?� [You supervise children from noon until three and 6pm until bedtime.] He drifted back to the dorm to see if Roberta was still with Janice, marveling at how fast things had gotten complicated.
Donald found Brenda delightful, but hearing �Hon, pick me up and move me around your dick until I know what you like� froze him for a second. The hologram preview had shown him the final version of Brenda, he hadn�t looked at the intermediate stages. And this seemed off, somehow. He thought she looked stretched, and her hands were a touch too big. It was mildly disconcerting, and made him feel like he was with some animatronic Peter Pan. He tried brushing past it, then realized that every woman had presented an unexpected problem.
�Tracy had wanted to stay, didn�t catch any hints at all. Fortunately Donald had years of experience with the AIs, and had procedures in place. His AI knew to never verbally acknowledging a non-verbal command, and to delay orders if Donald had appeared to be giving them. He�d once typed �Get this schmuck out of here� into a word processor to get a 3-star general out of his hair. The general�s pager immediately went off, but he wasn�t a dummy and rushed over to the computer and inspected the screen. Thankfully he�d already set up the rule to destroy evidence, so the offending words were already gone. But the lesson stuck.�
Today was easier. Donald had drummed �Give Tracy work ASAP� in morse code and the schedule was adjusted. After she rushed out, he told Roberta to make up some excuse (if asked), and requested Janice to come down after she ate. He�d cuddled with Tracy a bit, but didn�t want things to get out of hand. He felt anxious, he�d liked Janice for a year, but had been too busy (and far away) to do anything about it. He�d have preferred to sleep with her first, but Roberta had been fertile. That, plus seniority, sealed the deal. And since he�d decided to release everyone, the temptation to be Tracy�s first had overpowered.
If Donald Kaufmann had been one to pick up the video phone (like Admiral Chan) he�d have seen Janice kneeling in front of an ecstatic Roberta, her ass red. But the Pentagon had left its subtle mark on him. Donald commanded via emails and pages. His orders were typically just announcements. So he was surprised to find Roberta, not Janice, at his door. She confirmed that she�d handled Tracy, but then asked him to wait a bit for Janice. She didn�t offer a reason. That had hung in the air, but he gave in. Clearly Janice and Jim had shared a romp last night, and were either still going at it, or didn�t want to deal with Donald so soon after.
Beth was working, which left Brenda. Donald only had today and tomorrow, and planned on a half day with each concubine. He wanted another shot at the improved Roberta, too. All the women were sexy, but he�d designed her to his tastes. Another kiss brought him back to the present, and he stared into her eyes, feeling that they weren�t spaced quite right.
He must have paused. Brenda was looking at him. �Don�t tell me that offended you. I don�t figure a man like you offended by some pillow talk.�
�I�m not offended about what you said. You just look -- younger than I thought you would. Then I realized how I�d spent the last night.�
Brenda started smiling again. �I may have overdone it a bit.� She pulled off her smock, no pretense, no seduction, and just stood there. �I�m flat, but not as flat as Roberta was. These nipples will stick out if you play with them. Curtains match the carpet, but it�s trimmed back.� She grabbed his hand and placed it on her pubic hair. �Its there, but hard to see. I feel sexy� She paused, searching. �I am sexy, but not obvious, like the other four. A week ago I still felt sexy, but knew I wasn�t. Anyway, I�m going to be spending half my time with the kids. They love this. When I�m shorter they�ll love it more. Fun as you and Jim are, I know why you picked me.�
Brenda pulled him out of his jeans. He wasn�t hard, so she dropped to her knees (an act that would have crippled her before) and started licking. In a minute he was hard, so she popped back up to her feet, grabbed Donald�s hands and put them onto her hips. He picked her up, spun around so that his back was to the bed, and fell, pulling her into a kiss. He picked Brenda up and showed her how he liked it.
Donald thrust up into her, enhanced strength and light weight practically sent her flying, but his hands were locked around her hips (not as flat as they looked, but definitely petite) and he brought her back down to meet the next thrust. She was a rubber ball with a string, bouncing away from the paddle, before flying back for the next stroke. Donald had done this before, but never with such a small woman, never with so much strength. Before, he preferred this because of the visual effect, but now he just closed his eyes. Brenda�s last decade of sex had involved being flat on her back and taking it. Now, fucking meant motion. He slowed down and kept to a smooth motion.
She tweaked his nipple. �You�re my own personal Mr. Toad.� Donald laughed out loud, the first time he�d done that in years.
Roberta found Janice putting on a sun-dress. Everyone had replicated different clothes, since Donald hadn�t specified what to wear. �He said this evening was fine.�
�He didn�t ask?�
Roberta shook her head. �He didn�t. God knows what he�s thinking. But there�s nothing we can do about that. Was that what you wanted?�
�Yes and no. It was exciting, but not like I imagined. It felt scary, but I felt alive. And then, when I was kneeling there, I just kept replaying it. It was horrible when it was going on, but it feels great to remember it. Even if we were cut short. How are you? I mean, we didn�t --�
�I�m fine. The interruption broke the mood, but I�m fine. It felt exciting. I think most people would agree I get the better side of that deal. You know, I�ve never done anything like that before. Never considered it, really. There must be something in the air.�
�More like in those medical tubes. Enhanced libido.�
�I just figured we�d fuck more often.�
�Since dinner I�ve slept with more people than I have during the previous five years. By tonight I may top the previous decade. So that�s enhanced. As for the rest, I don�t know for sure, but I think they tweak us to be more open sexually. Mainly so we�ll sleep with each other.�
�I�d have been pissed if they told me before hand, but I can�t argue the results.� Roberta took Janice and kissed her. �So what do we do now?� Janice was looking over her shoulder, and then Roberta heard Jim knocking on the open door.
�May I come in?�
�Sure� Janice answered before Roberta could send him away. He already knew she�d slept with Roberta. Janice didn�t want to act suspicious. �What�s up?�
��I�m awake. I�m not babysitting until later. Like the man said, nothing to do but each other.� He held up his hands, palms out. �I know ya�ll have a thing, but from the looks of it, we�ll all have a thing together, soon enough.�
Roberta turned around, hands on hips. �So you thought we�d all.�
�I�ve got a few hours right now. I�m not smooth, and it�s easier to talk afterwards� Janice�s astonishment took the form of slightly slack-jawed staring. Men didn�t just causally walk up and say �Wanna screw?� Jim couldn�t read Roberta, was she mad or excited? Jim decided to push on. �It�s not romantic. Look, I�ve got simple tastes. There are two pretty women here.� That calmed them down. �I was brought here to watch kids and sleep with pretty women. I like both, but I prefer the second task. You two are just mad at me because I�m not waiting in line.� The women relaxed a bit. It made sense, although only a man would think like that. .
Janice said �I just feel like I�m in a porno. �Of course you can come in, sit down, let me see your giant cock! Oooh!�� She was smiling, hands clasped behind her back like a schoolgirl, her voice an imitation of a ditsy blond.
Roberta was annoyed, but revved Janice�s spanking. ��I�ve known men thought with their dicks, but it is refreshing to hear you just admit it like that. Mind if I go first, or should we double team him?� She started stripping out of her clothes.
�You first.� Janice figured her bottom would appear normal soon. She sat down to watch.
�Suit yourself.� She tried her own version of the ditsy blond voice. �Come give me that big cock, hard and fast.� Both girls giggles were cut short by his �Yes, ma�am,� but he didn�t notice. He stripped down, walked up to Roberta a landed a quick kiss, while running his hands around her breasts and hips. He nibbled her ear. �I can do slow and sweet, really. But hard and fast works.� She nodded. He pulled off her dress, gave another kiss, then pushed her back onto the bed, pulled her towards him until her legs were dangling, bottom resting just on the edge. He quickly knelt down (right where I�d been, Janice thought) and gently caressed her pussy. Jim wasn�t surprised she was wet, he�d figured they�d be interrupted. He stood up, already erect. He placed her ankles on his shoulders, his motions become smooth, deliberate. He eased himself into her, watching her. Once buried, he paused, then eased out until just only his head was inside. Pause. He pushed in. Pause. Out, and no more pauses. After a few deliberate thrusts Roberta nodded. Jim picked up speed. Roberta had a slight flush, but was silent, her legs swayed gently on his shoulders. Jim stared at her eyes and thought she�s not going to come, she�s trying to hold off. A few seconds later he realized he was wrong, she let out a cry and spread her legs, he grabbed one and paused, giving her time to wrap both legs around his waist and hook the left leg over her right ankle. He started back up again, still hard but deliberate. Roberta was panting now, and shte could see Janice watching her. Watching him. She gave another little cry. �Hurry� and Jim complied, a few seconds later pausing mid thrust, buttocks clenching, cock pulsing. They came together.
Janice slid over, then bent down to kiss Roberta. After the kisses, she went and closed the door, then slid off her dress and walked behind Jim. Roberta unlocked her legs and lowered them to the floor while Janice pressed herself to Jim�s back, nudging him onto the bed.
�I�m more of a slow and steady girl.�
Lunch was somber, for the adults. Tracy had seen Brenda coming out of Donald�s bedroom and had fled in tears. Roberta and Jim were late, but had heard. A few suggestions were raised. Roberta offered to talk to her. Donald said he should do it, but the women all shot him down quickly.
Brenda frowned. She�d been staring at Steven, Beth�s eldest, while thinking, and realized he was distraught, too. Something clicked. �We know the problem, but we don�t feel it like she does. It would be bad enough if we were just trying to remember what it felt like 20 years ago, but who�s first love acted like this?�
The others started to offer suggestions. Donald said �I told her the story of my first time and mentioned how different it was. You�re right. We don�t understand.� He put his food away, untouched. �But I might know someone who does.� He went to make a phone call.
[Tracy, there is a call for you from Chen Dai.] �Who? Who is he?� [He is Donald�s superior officer and called while you were in Donald�s room last night.] She wiped away her tears. �Okay.�
She saw the familiar face. He looked young, under twenty, with a slim face and thin mustache. He was wearing a business shirt, unbuttened at the collar with no tie. The AI had adjusted the screen so that it didn�t dominate the room, just hung like a large screen TV on the wall. �Ah, the lovely lady. I wished to apologize for the interruption last night. My name is Dai Chen.�
�Tracy Jenkins. Pleased to meet you.� Common courtesy had carried her to this point, now her curiosity got the better of her. �Didn�t you order him to relax? What did you expect to find?�
If Dai heard the sarcasm, he ignored it. �I would not have been surprised to find him working. It is all he knows.� Tracy wanted to interrupt, but his slight gestures and cadence filled the quick gaps. �Of course, that would mean he ignored an implied order, but that has been known to happen. I expected to catch him slaking his lust with two or three concubines. Most men do, their first night or two after enhancement. Particularly those of us who were not in the prime of life when selected.�
�So you see, I expected I would be interrupting, just not something intimate.�
�That makes sense, I guess. Apology accepted.�
�Good, now I wonder if I may have some of your advice?�
�You need my advice? What could I advise you on?� There was no hint of sarcasm, just wonder.
�Young women. I have built my harem improperly.� Tracy knew she had been set up.
Despite being the �weekend,� there was still plenty of work to keep Jim occupied. The children made sure of that that. Beth had brought her three. Donald had talked to Steven and Tommy (who had handled this surprisingly well for a four year old), but 8 year old Ashley was pining for her father. She viewed Steven and Tommy�s acceptance of him as a betrayal, and Jim figured he wouldn�t help any by stepping up and being another replacement father. Ashly mainly played with Michael (Roberta�s son, picked up from her ex-husband with his blessing) and Melissa (his daughter), who were seven and six, respectively. The other three were Brenda�s youngest: Jane (8), Steve (not Steven, especially since they had a Steven) (10) and Roger (almost 12). Jim found out that Brenda had left two older ones behind, but that still left them with eight kids, with their own grudges and hurt feelings.
They spent most of the afternoon playing games (some monopoly and cards for the older ones, mixed in video games, as well as four-square and general horseplay). Jim watched Donald tried to get to know them, but he didn�t know how to relate.� Every 15 minutes someone was pushing someone, or two kids got into a yelling match. Jim couldn�t keep track of it, he imagined Donald was lost in the chaos. Beth and Brenda (having the majority of the kids between them) took charge. Jim was nearby when Donald� asked for a summary of last night. [Acceptable. Children are displaying normal patterns of separation trauma, confusion and grief. All children received numerous warnings and several lost privileges for up to an hour.] Donald calmed down a bit after that.
Roberta and Beth were sitting together, talking. Mainly about Jim and what had happened before lunch. Roberta had given a full description (not mentioning Janice) mainly to try and figure it out, herself. The sex with Janice had been novel, but she thought she understood what they both got out of it.
Beth interrupted �Things are always easier to talk about if you can name them.� She looked around. �Me and the girls spent a lot of time arguing about this, but basically -- there are five types of fucking.�
�What?! I think there are more than that.�
�Not techniques, but emotional reasons. You�ve got control, esteem, frustration, bonding, and bartering. Positions and variations are just spice and personal taste. The five types are the emotional core. Of course, you have lots of subtypes; and two sides to control and esteem, but those pretty much cover it.� Beth was keeping a careful eye on Jim and Donald, and switched topics when they came near. After they left, she continued.
�The five types are all pretty obvious. So, to me it sounds like Jim offered a romp, and you couldn�t decide which type applied, and wavered. In the real world, you�d have just declined. But here? �A bad option. We�re a small house, you can�t just avoid him. So you decided to have a control fuck to show him whose boss.�
Roberta was thinking back �He took charge��
�Yeah, but you didn�t intent to enjoy it, right?� Full �think of England� mode?� Roberta nodded. �So, control fuck. But you decided better. That�s good.� The question is -- what did it become? Did you just give in because you were horny? Or because you realized it was a bad idea? Or you wanted to enjoy your new body? Why?�
�Well, it was a bad idea. And he feels fantastic. But I was tired of my image. You know, I�m just Sarge, the guy with a pussy. I�m still the NCO here, a little.�
�There we go. You were in a control situation, but that conflicted with your self-image of who you want to be. So you switched to a Self-esteem fuck.�
�That makes sense, but can�t you call it something else?�
�Oh, I don�t do that around women, but it�s helpful for us girls to remember that it�s not always some gooey romantic thing. Look at how messed up Tracy got, poor girl.� They spent a while trying to figure out how to help Tracy, since Donald was nearby.
Beth resumed �As for Jim �� Roberta cocked her head, �Do you know how he viewed things? For him, it could have started out as anything.�
�I don�t now. He didn�t really talk about it.�
�He can probably name every tool in his garage, though. He�s not a talker; he hides his feelings.� She wanted to probe further, but there was a fight over the four square ball that required her attention.
By the time the fight was resolved (with timeouts) Tracy was back. Steven spotted her first; the adults noticed her when he suddenly ran towards her. He pulled up short, trying to act like he�d just been heading over to talk to Steve and Roger. But heads turned. Roberta said �She�s back, do you think we should say hi?�
�No, let her. She�s still trying to work things out.� Beth turned to Roberta, mainly to stop following Tracy with her eyes. ��Have you got it? She doesn�t have the framework, but if she talks to you ��
�Let�s see, she was expecting bonding. That�s what we all expect, the first time. But she didn�t get it ��
�Right! Donald' probably wanted to bond with her, but his head got swollen about being her first.�
�You make it sound so lecherous.�
�Oh, I�m sure he was noble about it, making sure she enjoyed it. He probably told himself it was necessary to get to know everyone. But I�m sure that was all esteem for him.�
Roberta nodded, none of the other types made sense, except esteem and bonding. Beth�s framework was pretty good, actually. �So you saw this coming?�
�No. Well, I knew it was possible. But I figured he�d know to let her down easy. Donald seems like he�s planning, but he�s not. About us, anyway.�
�Do you always spend your time analyzing everyone around you?�
�Some. It�s funny. Back on earth being a good listener and working out relationships got me friends and a great husband. But I couldn�t do anything with it. I just volunteered at a shelter, and a mom. But up here � we�ve got an AI. No money issues. All we have are people. If this were a democracy, I�d be president instead of him!� She laughed at the thought.
Roberta smiled. Donald screwed up on that one, she thought. I expected his sexpot to be self-absorbed, but she�s delusional. At least she�s nice. �Which are you going to use, when it�s your turn?�
�All five! He won�t know what hit him.� Roberta smiled, her thoughts confirmed.
Donald thought dinner went smoothly, once he stopped trying to talk to Tracy. She was polite, but distant. By unspoken agreement, everyone kept the conversation light, but there was some business to be discussed. Mostly, this involved setting up the �real� schedule and for the kids (starting Monday). Over the course of half an hour the nights sleeping arrangements were settled. Everyone spoke in low voices, hunched forward, and made sure that they couldn�t overhear people. Perhaps a few small tables would be better than a long bench, Donald reflected.
Roberta, Janice and Jim were sitting at one end of the long adult table. They�d avoided each other all afternoon. After some awkwardness, Roberta and Jim both apologized. Janice demurred. It had been clear Jim found Roberta stunning, and Janice merely attractive. And she knew that there was some weird tension between the two of them. If a second languid session brought them together, she could wait. She wasn�t really mad at Roberta for hogging Jim, but at Jim. Donald, for interrupting earlier. But that was the past. She said all was forgiven, and turned to Beth.
�Do you want Donald tonight, or tomorrow?� she asked, raising her voice to where it could be overheard.
�Well,� Beth drawled it out, thinking. �If it�s up to me, tomorrow.� Janice nodded and glanced at Donald, who was eating silently across from Tracy. He�d heard. Tracy had probably heard as well, but Janice was tired of tiptoeing her.
�You know, you aren�t the man I imagined.� Donald was still holding the door as Janice walked past. He flushed, patience wearing thin. Tracy was distant, He�d messed up with Roberta, now Janice. What did Beth have in store? At least Brenda was straightforward and pleasant.���������
�What the hell does that mean?� his voice dropping.
Janice sat down on the bed. �I�ve fantasized about you for nearly three years, Donald Kaufmann. Smart. Handsome. Organized. You introduced me to this giant conspiracy, you were saving the world, and told me you needed me.�
She watched him relax, a bit �If I�d slept with you last night, I�d have acted just like Tracy this morning. And I�d have less excuse than she did. All the signs were there.�
�So now I�m just a silly man?�
�Not silly. How about an absent minded professor, in a uniform? Distracted.�
�You don�t think I�m the monster you worried about from those meetings?� Donald suddenly felt guilty about Roberta, and his ex-wife.
�You are my knight in shining grey armor.� She got up and draped her arms around his neck. �Still a knight, though. But they had their flaws, too. The man I imagined � well, he was perfect.� She kissed him, once.
�It is an inhuman system, Janice. But we don�t have to be that way.�
��Tell me about this Abe woman you imagined, and I�ll disabuse you of any false charity. Then we move past theory,� she slid off her dress, �and onto practice.�
FIN
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